DECOLONISATION OF ESWATINI - PART I

AS much as the colonisation of Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) in particular was generally negative, there were many positives. One of these positives is that I can communicate through English, which has become a global language, and my message can be understood globally including some fellow Africans.The internet has tools to buy information about industrialisation that was previously unavailable.  King Sobhuza II stated, and I quote ‘We must take what is good from the white men and leave what is bad’. However, faced with a superior and more advanced civilisation we found ourselves losing our own identity and degrading and demonising our civilisation.

I have chosen to use the word ‘civilisation’ deliberately because Africans tend to shy away from calling it African civilisation because we have been made to believe there is nothing civilised about Africa.  Maybe we do not understand the true definition of the word. Civilisation can be defined as a human society that has highly developed material and spiritual resources and a complex cultural, political and legal orgnisation, forming an advanced state in social development. The Kingdom of Eswatini had political systems, traditional justice legal courts, well-established cultural norms and spiritual beliefs that kept us for centuries.  

Capitalist survival of the fittest  
Our colonialists had a very different civilisation based on capitalism and the survival of the fittest. More individualistic than communal. Unaware of their true intentions we allowed them to take over every aspect of our lives, when in fact some good aspects of our civilisation were worth keeping. Untold suffering and oppression followed the dispossession of our culture, land, brotherhood and ultimately our very identity. The spirit of ubuntu which says ‘I am because you are’ is gone. In the true capitalist spirit, it becomes easy to become super rich and live in a ten room mention next to a fellow African in a wooden four-by-four shack. 

There are emaSwati who are fine with wearing watches worth hundreds of thousands and even worth millions, eating and drinking thousands every weekend when there are blood relatives who can’t afford school shoes for their children and a next meal. We should not be happy for as long as fellow emaSwati are suffering. Our conscious should convict those of us who are spending money recklessly regardless of who we are. As leaders, the concern for emaSwati should be reflected in one’s own restraint in spending. We cannot compare ourselves with rich countries ‘yet’. I say ‘yet’ because I know a small country like Eswatini can become sugar-rich if it thinks like Thomas Sankara who said:  “We must choose no champagne for a few but safe drinking water for all.”

Somehow our government believes that a neoliberal capitalist economic system will liberate us from poverty. His Majesty the King is convinced that we can build a First World under the nose of the Western powers. They cannot allow this to happen. Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea were all strategically located and thus important geopolitically to the Western powers particularly America. They can only invest if we have something to offer them that South Africa can’t. We have some minerals but our mining laws are not economically viable or attractive. We have a tiny landlocked population thus no domestic market. They can’t take control of our political system because we have no political parties like Botswana.
This leaves us with no option but to build our industries from the ground up. Leveraging the various trade agreements, we can penetrate African markets and eventually the world. This will require a decolonised mindset.

Decolonising the mind

Western culture has indoctrinated our minds into believing that you are someone only if you follow their culture and wear their labels such as Nike, from athletic clothing to streetwear, Nike’s innovative styles and performance fabrics dominate,  Adidas, Levi’s, Chanel, Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermès, Dior, Cartier (Jewellery), Rolex (watches) and the list goes on. There is nothing wrong with quality labels if you can afford them but buy in moderation.  Our leaders, top businesspeople and their families boast of international luxury trips costing millions of Dollars. In Africa how can one justify spending US$300 000 (E5.58 million) Chanel Elongated Classic Flap Clutch bag or even US$130 000 ( E2.4 million ) for one handbag and still sleep knowing that this bag could buy a full manufacturing machine for handbags from China/ Taiwan and employ tens blood relatives? Yes, I get it that you earned your money, but I ask why do you feel the need to give so much to a super-rich white man who does not even care about you or your family?  One Nigerian leader Sani Abashe stole US$5 billion, took it to London, and died before he could spend it. The British government is refusing to give it back.

Vanity Killing Africa
There is a difference between having a durable and quality item and having a vanity item. Vanity means excessive pride in one’s appearance, qualities, abilities, position and achievements. Usually found in people with a character or quality of being vain and conceited. In some cases, such people are covering up for a weak character who has no self-worth outside their vanity items. Some come from poor backgrounds and compensate and can even spoil their children to the extent of not teaching them siSwati.  Some claim that vanity items are a good retainer of value and wealth but who would buy a second-hand Chanel handbag at even a fraction of the money spent on its purchase? The cost to produce may be US$200 at most.

The decolonising of Africa will start when we free our minds from colonial vanity items and buy quality locally produced African items. From cars to clothing to general consumer products, we need to consciously choose local. Yes, Local manufacturers might not produce the best yet because Africans are mentally hooked on foreign products including services. The Republic of China has proven that it is possible to collectively pull millions of citizens out of poverty. Maybe their communist political system helped them fight vanity. At least they have their industries, unlike Africa. We mocked low-quality Chinese products but now they make the best and are a world economic power.

Next Week Part II
The Kingdom of Eswatini has evolved its civilisation and Monarchy for over 400 years and all the characteristics of order and hierarchy are politically, legally, culturally and spiritually well-established. Next week we will look at how emaSwati can decolonise and evolve politically, legally, culturally and spiritually. It would be interesting to get suggestions. septembereswatini@gmail.com

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: