Earlier today I came across a video that made me think differently about how I view my country, Nigeria. So the video was a snippet from my favourite TikTok couple, khalidandsalama, on their trip to Nigeria. They showed some of their charitable work in some orphanages, which is not a terrible thing per se but as a Nigerian, I do not like to see my country in that light especially from the viewpoint of a foreigner for a couple of reasons.
First of all, I think it is performative. It is an insincere narrative that has been sold to the rest of the world about Africa mainly to exploit unsuspecting people in the west who send these donations/aids that most times never get to the people who need them.
There is more to Africa than starving kids. Your donation to/for the well/borehole construction in a remote village in Africa doesn’t necessarily change the lives of these villagers. Most times the resources to do those said things exist and are available within those places. Unfortunately, Africa is being exploited by the west and its leaders. This is why I am critical of foreign aid. I think it is a way for the west to feel good about itself. Also in most cases, they take more than they give.
It doesn’t make much sense to me why, for instance, a DAO with the intent of furthering technology would be donating peanuts for a project in a remote village when there are people from this said community that can be equipped with the knowledge/skill to better their lives and that of their people. This is why to some extent I am grateful for a platform like hive. This is one of the places I did not get the African treatment (although it exists to some degree). I wasn’t earning my stake in the community because I was a poor boy from Africa. I earned my place through my contribution to the network and that is what I consider to be true empowerment.
With that being said, I will admit that I speak from a place of privilege. Being part of the Nigerian middle class (if that even exists now), my reality is quite different from the majority of people that make up this country, who are poor and underprivileged. I do understand ‘hunger’ and ‘want’ but not on the same level as someone who doesn’t have the means or agency to do something about their situation.
Currently, there is a flood crisis in Nigeria. Many have been displaced from their homes. They do not have the means to take care of their basic needs and the government is doing nothing about it or even acknowledging it–not even an official statement from the president. So it would be hypocritical not to acknowledge this set of people, who even exist amidst the flood.
Two truths can exist. The world is not always binary, however, I am of the opinion that Africa needs more than aid to thrive. We need to hold ourselves and our leaders who are puppets to the west accountable. We are a rich continent, with human and capital resources. I want to see a thriving Nigeria/Africa in my lifetime. Cheers!