The Imperialism of Feminism

In the Western history, women were expected to stay at home, where they were taught how to be good wives and good mothers, and of course how to stay pretty and silent. They felt dominated and oppressed economically, politically, and in their own bodies. They decided to speak up and fight for equality.

They got released from home and went to school. They now occupy positions their grandmothers and mothers never dared dream about. They boast economic independence, now able to afford everything a consumer society creates to anticipate their wildest desires. They contribute to the full functioning of the capitalist machine, just like the other half of humanity, with the exception of certain wives of well-to-do men.

They are involved in political activities – some of them even leading countries – and one is about to lead the most powerful country if she manages not to get knocked out by the glass ceiling.

They claim to be in control of their own bodies, while the pharmaceutical industry feeds them hormones that convert male fish into female, and the beauty industry (mainly controlled by men) defines how their bodies should look with the goal of selling more yogurt and cars.

They are still expected to be good wives, mothers, and of course, pretty. They also have to be as competent as men at work, while making less money. The pressure to perform well, both at home and at work, is silently crushing them while their unrestrained pursuit of the perfect body leaves deep wounds but no visible scars.

And now they want to free all the ‘oppressed women’ around the world. As always, they have started by setting up universal rights for complex and plural women.

In African history, women’s conditions have always been diverse, depending on their background as rural or urban women, whether their society is patriarchal or matriarchal, the ethnic group they belong to, the country or region they are from, and their personalities. Consequently, their need for equality differs dramatically depending on their social class, cultural background, beliefs, values, and the way they were socialized to be women in non-individualistic societies. They too used to be discriminated against because of their gender, notably in terms of access to lands and high-income activities. They too used to deal with arranged marriage, polygamy, female genital mutilation, rape, and domestic violence. Within the same Africa, women never stopped being the drivers of economic activities (in agriculture and trading). They never stopped influencing policy or familial decisions through their men (husbands and sons), who personify authority within their social group. They never stopped exercising spiritual power as priestesses. They never stopped organizing and fighting for their rights.

Being freed from the domination and oppression perpetrated by the other half of humanity is the least of their concerns. Revolutions and evolutions have to be driven by and within the oppressed people themselves. The contingencies of a given society impose changes naturally, but when the changes are dictated from the outside, it is called imperialism.

Nafissatou TINE

Mandela Washignton Fellow 2016

nafi.tine@yahoo.fr

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Africa is rising: Behind the scenes

L’Afrique noire est mal partie (Africa Is off to a bad start). This is the title of René Dumond's premonitory book written in 1962. In his book, the author criticizes strenuously the agricultural policies adopted by the new African states within a context of decolonization and the euphoria of independence. Though the book deals with agricultural policies, the same title could be applied to economic, cultural and military policies that have failed to yield the expected results. 

Several complex factors can explain our failures. The most striking of these is the fact that decolonization occurred only on paper, while the mindsets remain colonized. In the wake of independence, dependency treaties were signed with the former colonizers. Though Western political models were blindly duplicated, re-establishing and improving our own indigenous institutions would have been best fit our conception of society. Moreover, external and competing powers have been shaping our policies with the complicity of incompetent leaders largely driven by their own interests and that of their entourage. 

Therefore, over the last 50 years and notwithstanding strengths such as our youth, raw materials, fertile soils, wildlife, beaches, sun and water etc.; most African countries have been marked by wars, famines, epidemics and massive external debt. To save them, they have been bombarded by aid of all kinds, provided by international rescuers who are not always inspired by humanitarian aims. Up until today, one of the wealthiest continents in the world in terms of natural resources remains unable to respond to the most basic needs (food, education and health) of its people, and even less able to guarantee territorial security. 

During this particular time when the threat of terrorism is destabilizing our continent, Africa tends to outsource the strategic task of its defence to “rescuers” who are seeking a respectable justification to secure wells and mines, or an endangered ‘protégé’. But who is to blame for our fate? We have been inexorably pointing out the responsibility of foreign powers. In their defence, they are legitimately preserving their own interests and the material well-being of their people. In contrast, our leaders are mostly concerned about diverting our assets in tax havens, ‘their heaven’, breaking opposition and holding on to power. 

Following long periods of growing afro-pessimism, here are just a few of the headlines of respectable international journals in recent years: Africa rising; A hopeful continent; Emerging Africa; and Africa – the great opportunity. 

But for whom is Africa rising, emerging and providing opportunities? What is the continent hopeful for? 

Global demand of Africa’s resources is increasing, and the major powers hope to secure their needs in terms of raw materials and fertile soils. Multinationals operating in strategic sectors has risen, and foreign investors are hoping for a higher and rapid return on investments. The GDP of a few African countries is also rising, along with the bank deposits of a few African kleptocratic elites. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of Africans declare they cannot eat economic growth. While more and more Chinese and European migrants are seeking opportunities in our continent, the cost of living and the unemployment levels are relentlessly rising. Furthermore, hope among youth for a better life is decreasing. 

The scramble for the big cake of Africa is being repeated with some of our leaders taking the role of insane traders of our future. In order to break this vicious circle, solutions to Africa’s problems must receive answers arising directly from the Africans themselves. To realize this, a critical mass of skilled and educated Africans, dedicated to thinking for our future are needed. My hopes lie on our new generation of young African leaders who feel a sense of duty to stop the looting of Africa, and enhance their people’s lives. Here are some areas where I believe that reforms could significantly change lives of generations of Africans: Agriculture, Education, Institutions and Defence. 

With respect to agriculture, better management of fertile lands and policies supporting local farmers and promoting jobs in agriculture could help to deal with our food security. To emerge many Africans from poverty, our education system must teach our children how to feed our people, how to enhance the value of our raw resources; how to understand ICT systems, and how to develop the manufacturing sector. With regards to institutions, a deep reform that will facilitate fair distribution of power and accountability among several stakeholders of our societies would help increase transparency, notably in the management of Public Finances. Furthermore, to address our global, regional, trans-regional and trans-national security challenges, a skilled, well-equipped and united African Army is needed desperately.

In a system trapped in corruption and impunity, the task of turning around the fate of our people, even to a modest level, might appear daunting for young leaders. Nevertheless, as a colleague put it: “he who wishes to bring positive change in a failed system ought to sup with the devil using a long spoon, while retaining the conscience of an angel”.

Nafi Tassou*

*Tassou in Senegal is a kind of speech with some rhythms, reminding one of rap music

Nafissatou TINE

Mandela Washignton Fellow 2016

nafi.tine@yahoo.fr

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Cultural dialogues and a carousel of feelings

When I got informed that I would be “Coming to America”, I was first excited to meet all my African fellows in one place and learn from them. I was also thrilled about being in The United States of America and seeing real American people in their natural environment, between McDonald's and Coca Cola. 

So I met them, and I realized that “Thiébou dieune” * is the first word that springs to people’s minds when it comes to my country Senegal. I also learned that the Congolese culture goes beyond Papa Wemba and Sakasaka; discovered that Mauritius is located in Africa, and that Kenya is not only populated by lions and Maasai. I even met an Ethiopian who was not a marathoner; a Somali who was not starving to death and a Liberian free of Ebola. 

However, I was less prepared to meet diverse samples of Americans: African American, Asian American, Latino American and even Native American called “people of colour”. They did not have the bright Colgate smile of Donald Trump, his Hollywood tanned skin, and his shiny blond hair. They taught me that America (or should I say the Americas) was not a country and cannot be reduced to the United States of America. 

I met brown Americans just like me, some even darker, others lighter. I heard them speak perfect English, some with this recognizable melodious accent of our far away countries, others not. I told them how much I was impressed by their country, a rainbow nation, that could inspire Africa in resolving its ethnic conflicts. I felt their sorrow of not seeing their colour blend homogeneously with that of the American flag. 

On my way to Chicago, I met a young African American, Kadil who could not locate Africa on a map, nor America his own country. “I am not that much educated” he told me, and I realized that USA and Africa shared the same problem of educating their young people. 

Nurtured by the myth of the American dream displayed on TV, I have seen in Madison that for some people, the American dream comes true directly in the streets, on the sidewalks, or in beautiful parks with hasty bystanders as spectators. 

I have met “low income families” and I saw them depicted in their natural environment by some of my fellows. It reminded me of what I have seen in my country with western tourists who also wanted to capture poverty’s soul… and the saying “do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you” took all its meaning. 

Sometimes, I feel scared by the idea that in THE country of freedom, young people celebrating life could get shot by another fellow citizen celebrating his right to carry a gun. The United States of America, the same country that has been nurturing the dreams of a better life of generations of young people, all over the world. 

Nafi Tassou* 

*Tassou: in Senegal is a kind of speech with some rhythms, reminding one of rap music. 

*Thiébou dieune is the national dish of Senegal. It is made from fish, rice and tomato sauce. Other ingredients often include onions, carrots, cabbage, cassava and peanut oil. The name of the dish comes from Wolof words meaning "rice" (ceeb) and "fish" (jën).

Nafissatou TINE

Mandela Washignton Fellow 2016

nafi.tine@yahoo.fr

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