slim said:
As far as I am concerned Africa is a lost cause. When the African took over their country (Whichever country, Kenya, South Africa, Rhodesia)from the white man the state of the country in general was prosperous and the population healthy.
It had taken the Black African (and I am not being racist) less than 40 years to put Africa back 200 years. Tribalism and corruption being the causes.
I now no longer donate any money to Africa, it is indeed a bottomless pit, rich and corrupt leaders syphoning off most of the aid.
Biggest problem was the european powers creating countries on a whim. Political borders that cut across tribal boundaries were a sure recipe for disaster and the handing over of the reins of power to cliques meant that the people would never have a chance. Nigeria is a British creation and is typical of the post-colonial chaos left behind in the rush to abandon empire. The few countries that did stand a chance were sold down the river by european governments who were far happier to have corrupt black despots than honest white minorities in government.
That being said, most West African corruption is confined to the big cities. Out in the rural areas there are decent hard-working people who will work hard if they are led properly. However there is little leadership and what leadership there is is totally corrupt.
The oil-companies are another story; imagine for a moment living in the middle of bum-fcuk nowhere in a village that hasn't changed in hundreds of years.....overnight an oil terminal appears.....lots of white guys who appear to be the richest people on earth behind fences and barbed wire. They have electricity, doctors, toilets and fresh running water. The village has nothing. The area has nothing. No schools. No wells. There is a lot of resentment being bred.
I was down on the Brass River at an oil camp and there was an enormous amount of friction with the locals. We ended this friction by interfacing and helping the villagers. For a few thousand dollars we had a well drilled and a genny up and running. Guys would come back from leave with old clothes and schoolbooks for the village. Up at Forcados where Shell had an operation the villagers were treated like pigs.......fishing nets ripped up by supply boats, oil-spills into their fresh-water systems, villagers on one side of the wire and Shell on the other. If the villagers didn't like it then Shell just whistled up the Nigerian Army. Not good. For anyone that says Africa is a basket case, led by corrupt politicians I agree wholeheartedly but we should always look beyond the obvious and examine root causes.
On a slightly cheerier note and because whatever happens in the world usually has a Royal Marine connection:
The biggest local village on the Brass is called Spiffstown and in the village square is a statue of Brasso Spiff the founder. It is also the place where Royal Marines from HMS St. George landed in 1895 to give the locals a much needed spanking after they had overrun a trading-post at Akassa and killed 40 people. The Royal Marines issued a medal for the Brass River Campaign; Victoria on one side and an African battle scene on the other...and as Kipling wrote about the British wounded:-
" I came away like a bleedin' toff
For I had four n*ggers to carry me off
As I lay in the bight of a canvas trough
When the Widow gave a party".
RM
