Africans Chiselled To Alternate Their Freedom Proclamation

 

An Analysis By Fred Farai Nyakudanga FFF

What Africans owned before Colonisation wasn’t land and territory only. African Natives had a strong cultural practice, governance, justice and belief systems. Their survival tools hunting, animal husbandry, trade and socialisation was out of this world. 

The coming of the White Man all of these things were discarded and replaced. The land was improved and sophisticated machinery was introduced in mining secluding land the major tangible claim Africans had a straight right.

Though it uncomplicated some tasks, African Natives resisted the White Man’s invasion in total. The gun overpowered Africans. To mitigate the African Native‘s mental resistance the White Man introduced his education system. 

My paternal grandmother told me stories about how it was difficult to enrol for school, back in the 1930s. Missionaries had a torrid time to convince African Natives to accept their method of education. My grandmother evaded her parents who disapproved enrolment. She aspired to be a teacher but how erratic she attended class limited her to reading and writing only. 

Resistance reduced in some areas Masvingo precisely due to being the first established City by the Pioneer Column. Missionaries followed up and established mission schools Gokomere, Silveria Mission and many others. My grandmother made me believe enrolment came with incentives rather than payment of school fees.

The African Natives’ consciousness had to be changed so that they would corporate. All the economic means Africans relied on became legislated and commercialised. Hunting which was a great skill of Africans and a source of livelihood required a licence. Most wild animals were driven into conservatives owned by the Settlers. 

The African value benefit system had totally changed. On their own Africans benefited directly from natural resources and their work. When they went to hunt right there every contributor would get his share. The King had reserves to help his people and spread harmony throughout his empire. The White Man collected resources and revenue on the promise that everyone would share centrally.

Domesticated animals cattle in particular demanded tax forcing Africans to seek employment so as to earn money to meet the new legislated obligations. The jobs also demanded logic and skill separate from the abilities Africans were endowed. The African native had no choice besides following what the Settlers were demanding, going to school and seeking employment for on job training.

The journey of the African Natives into the trap of the White Man solidified everyday. African Natives started to have a sense of belonging over the meagre salaries and pensions they were earning. Big money that came through selling of minerals enriched a few. The more they got satisfied with their earnings the more they forgot about the money and resources the country was selling. The systems at play had no connection with Africans anymore their interests came second to those of Settlers. The replacement of the African systems to the Settlers' distanced the claim of Africans totally.

The skills Africans were endowed with became unused so how could they be in front of a system they weren’t familiar with. Some freedom activities became statute offences. Some skills were categorised cultural as a way of discouraging commercialisation. Dances like mhande, muchongoyo, tsotsa, mbende remained lively but without markets that were ready to pay. Some limited token of appreciation was paid for hired performers at National events. The late Douglas Vambe recorded the Rhodesian Broadcast news tune in 1962 and was not paid a single cent by the White government. The Zimbabwean government paid him recently in 2016 with a 100 hectares of land

Growing entertainment in the USA, France and many other countries ended up infusing some of African entertainment to meet high demand worldwide. The talented natives had to get permission from authorises to travel overseas to perform; first a passport was needed, and next a visa/permission of the country you were traveling to. The African musician remained poor as disposable income of African Natives was limited. You will find out that a lot of foreign music found its way into Africa. A few African entertainers were taken overseas to impart knowledge to the White Man. The likes of Dumisani Maraire and Ephat Mujuru.

The professional recording of music was later introduced in the 70s in Zimbabwe when the White Man was quite sure the Natives had been accustomed to foreign music. Mbira, ngoma and marimba couldn’t fit in the new set up. Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues were now being fused to some township music especially in South Africa.

The Education system before independence had bottle necks, a very few people could proceed further with studies. Those who did not make the grade were employed as semi skilled workers meaning their earnings were limited. This plan looked so natural that the African Natives ended up satisfied with the little they earned. The social services were world class. Fresh bread was delivered in all remote areas. London Bread bakery catered for the mass market while Lobels and Aroma serviced urban homes. 

African Native men would work in town and then go back to their rural areas to enjoy with the rest of the family The family food basket was supplemented by subsistence farming. But rural homes had no ownership, the land was reserved for mining and infrastructure development. In the event of a second use families would be relocated. This forced African Natives to migrate to urban homes and crowd. There wasn’t any dividends paid for the natural resources found, minerals belonged to the government.

The learned African Natives reached a ceiling despite their advanced education. They couldn’t rise to decision making positions that could help in pushing for favourable policies for their fellow Africans. Those that were affected by bottle necks blamed themselves and wished if they could continue with school. A lot started working hard to send their children to school so that they could live better lives. The educated who reached the ceiling found the missionaries urge of advancing with education misleading. 

Four classes of people were created, the educated Natives, the peasant farmers who were sending their children to school, the semi skilled workers and the unemployed youths who were hired for menial jobs. The White Man who were not so qualified led African natives at work. For the same job an African Native did, a White Man received three times or more salary higher. 

The treatment of Africans built disgruntlement among all African Natives. Resistance started tracing back to the first resistance of their forefathers. Natives started to mount pressure for better conditions. The African Natives discovered that political power was important to govern the country. Resistance groups started forming to fight the White Man.

I am of a high opinion that the resistance was anticipated, the Settlers had achieved their goal Africans had been totally and satisfactorily been disconnected from their own systems, abilities and means. The fact that the African Natives were fighting for inclusion in the Settlers system as administrators meant that the White Man had managed to change the concerns of the earlier resistance, the first Chimurenga war. I am also of a high opinion that the White Man put out a fight to give the African natives adequate claim to the White Man's new system.

The pride African Native leaders grew for winning the war should have been a big celebration of the White Man. The African Natives had totally accepted the system of the White Man. My great concern is, what did the African Natives really win by adopting the all White Man’s system yet their ancestors wanted to drive these Settlers out of the continent so that they continue with their lives. 

The reasons first Chimurenga war of the 1880s or earlier have big differences with the Second Chimurenga war’s motives. The alteration is bringing me to the conclusion that Africa is yet to become independent. The White Man’s education animated African Native leaders to adopt the White Man’s systems at the expense  Africa's own systems that give Africa total power.

Our history seems altered too to suit the long agenda of the White Man to rule Africa forever. Africans traded during their era. Africans had their own system of governance and justice. The moral fabric was maintained by the solid principles that were enforced through the tribal hierarchy. The totem system was a very effective way of encouraging love among Africans. Africans lived as families so the spirit of togetherness overflowed within Africans. 

Yes we have our own black people in power now but if standards and patents belong to the White Man the African leaders are as good as satellite. When these White people are talking, they allege Africans are consumers. For argument’s sake if Zimbabwe was to claim discovery of HIV cure today would the world believe and accept. Health is centralised around the World Health Organisation. Politics is monitored by the superpowers and United Nations. They are the ones who know if democracy is being practiced or not. 

Right now there is a contentious issue of sanctions in Zimbabwe, who is being offended by the alleged human rights abuse. If it is the people of Zimbabwe why aren’t they able to put this across to their leaders. Isn’t it the system of governance African leaders were forced upon that removed smooth dialogue between Africans. The White Man can standardize a table spoon as a pinch of salt as long the dish is being served to Africans. They do not care about the damage and Africans also freely consume as long as it is White Man approved. 

The African voice was relegated to protest. The only time negotiations take place is when there is international presence. The Lancaster House Conference if 1979, Thabo Mbeki’s GNU negotiations between MDC and Zanu PF of 2008. Africans were known for their night Virgil Dare that resolved differences amicably no ruler was beyond reach.

It is really not bad to advance technologically, but as long as standards are still referred to the White Man’ institutions then Africans are not free. There is no life that is stagnant even on their own Africans were developing from the stone age, iron age and lost Africans are in the White Man’s age without any meaningful claims besides the sand and valleys.

Fred Farai Nyakudanga FFF expresses own opinion in his writing. He is a marketer, development enthusiast and artist. Contact him on fredfarai@gmail.com or drop your comment below