Ghana: No antibodies for this virus - Obama's speech

Just came to your post after leaving comments on NigerianCuriosity. As for Germany and Japan, their modern-day success stories were largely shaped by American influence and stronger Western powers (at the time).

However, I think the legacy of colonialism/neocolonialism Africa is a bit more complex than the situations were see in both Germany and Japan - even the Mugabe example Obama provided is tainted with Western interests at work.

Like I said on SSD's blog, Obama could say what he said about Africa and its troubles because he, himself is black.

The notion of "white guilt" is alive and well, and no non-African leader would dare to absolve his nation of the role it had to play in the failure of Africa.

However, in regards to the example that you mentioned, Mugabe, Obama is not the first Western leader to look toward Zimbabwe's direction and blame its woes on Mugabe.

Mugabe has already developed an antibody to such attacks - which is to simply ignore the offending pathogen and go along his merry way. For all he cares, the viral DNA can integrate itself into the host's DNA to be transcribed - but will not be translated into any meaningful product (by the way, love your virus-antibody analogy....)

As for the changing focus of aid ... at this point I see it as just talk. I am almost certain that the powerful American agriculture lobbyists will not allow their president to put a damper on their increasingly lucrative business of supplying "food aid..."

What do you mean it was not a miracle speech? Do you not know that it has cured African complacency (borrowing from Chxta) and will eradicate corruption and every other ill?

It is funny to hear Anderson Cooper advertise an upcoming show about Obama's "First visit to Africa" when in reality the Ghana trip was either the first to sub-Saharan Africa or his second trip to the African continent.

Anyway, it was a good speech that repeated much of what we already know and that Africans have already been discussing. It is sparking conversation, which never hurts. And considering his popularity on the continent, it might spark something else...

As to the West's role in Zimbabwe. I give Mugabe full credit for the mess Zim has become, however, I challenge that certain Western demands played a role. Delays in how land was used in that country created a lot of the discontent that fueled Mugabe's earlier support from Black Zimbabweans, no? Those delays were not simply Mugabe's doing. Nevertheless, that does not change the fact that nobody pushed Mugabe and his allies to turn Zim from a dream to a nightmare. Nor, does that reality change the fact that as Mugabe transformed Zim into an abyss, we Africans sat by and let it happen resulting in the very people who have always suffered, suffering all over again but not at the hand of some foreigners but their own brethren.

Regardless of who caused what or another, we, those faced with Africa's problems, have to create our own solutions. The question remains how to achieve that. Imnakoya has shared his views, which I couldn't find much fault with. And alas, the discussion continues.

I was pleased with the speech overall, but I did note two weak areas in terms of content. Obama attempted to defend the "AFRICOM" plan to station U.S. military in African countries. I actually expected to hear some "boos" from the audience about that. I also was not impressed with his promise of a "green revolution" for sub-Saharan Africa.

As I have just now written in my own blog, I thought that Mr. Obama looked uncharacteristically nervous and was poorly prepared. I look forward to seeing much improvement as he makes future trips to African nations.

@Nneoma,

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Like I said there is quite some analysis of Obama's speech and it surely does not cover all the elements many would like it to cover.

I doubt if it would have been possible to address the matters that are important but not necessarily critical in that speech without it going on for hours on end.

I am sure after the groundwork laid out by this speech the other matters would definitely get some adequate mention - that kind of reinforcement is Obama's style.

@SolomonS,

Thanks for stopping by again. I would however say, Zimbabwe is a big topic on its own, but the two references made to that country in the speech were body blows enough for everyone else to realise there would be no sacred cows when Obama does Africa.

@Don,

Thanks for leaving a comment. I think we are missing the fact that anywhere America decides to place more economic interest they would naturally protect that interest with some military presence of sorts.

AfriCom is going nowhere and neither would essentially have any particular benefit to Africans apart from protecting American interests - something that comes naturally to America.