African Absurdities II: Give me a dog's life any day,

by Hama Tuma

A book review by Ewunetu Kefyalew

I have read many books by African and non-African authors on Sub-Saharan African political, economic, social, economic and related issues. Many of these books are simplistic; some apologetic & supportive of certain ideologies and tendencies; a few supportive of the oppressed people of Africa; and others simplistic. By contrast, I found the two editions of Hama Tuma entitled " African Absurdities" refreshing and insightful.

I was especially moved by Hama Tuma's most recent book "African Absurdities II: Give Me a Dog's Life Any Day." This political satire of sorts vividly contrasts the enormous gap in wealth between the rich West and the poor South in general and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. The vast majority of people in Sub-Saharan African countries suffer from a cycle of oppression and dictatorship. Successive changes in Government in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Togo or Congo have yet to bring changes in governance that and economic policy that would usher in a new era of multi-party democracy, peace and reconciliation or alleviation of massive poverty. As Hama Tuma in his provocative chapter, " the Normal Disaster," ...."Not much works, almost all is in despair, breaking down" Witness the almost half a century circus of foreign aid to Africa with thousands of so called experts workin g and trying to assist Africans become better and m ore than US $4 billion spent annually to support them. What happened to the roads, schools, health facilities, factories, telecommunications facilities, ports and other economic and social infrastructure that was supposed to transform African countries into prosperity? There is hardly any thing to show. What happened to the billions of dollars spent on seminars on governance, capacity building, democracy and economic development? Why are countries losing their talent pool, doctors and other trained folks leaving Africa for the West?

Hama Tuma makes a persuasive case about the absurdities in Africa in his discussion of "How to Govern in Five Easy Lessons." Far from being independent and "nationalistic" African heads of state have become more acceptable (Renaissance Men} as long as they pretend and echo "certain ideologies and views such as outright privatization and democracy. In the words of Hama Tuma, " An African President in reality the top beggar and this makes it difficult for him to pretend to be proud and the master of his own destiny." Sub-Saharan African countries are more dependent and poorer now than they were shortly after independence. Sad but true, Sub-Saharan African countries continue to suffer from lack of genuine internal leadership that is dedicate d to the single purpose of national social, economic and cultural transformation. "It is incumbent on us to change our ways..." says Hama Tuma. Without internal change, Sub-Saharan African countries will remain desolate, desperate and dependent. Change starts with us...each and every African, and especially those who profess to lead. This is a critical lesson that I draw from the book.

Given the despair and deplorable situation in Sub-Saharan Africa, millions Africans make huge sacrifices, including their dignity as human beings in search of better opportunities in the West. Sad but true, Africans, who are mistreated in their own countries, do not find equitable or fair treatment in their new found homes in the West or any where for that matter. Hama Tuma is right when he says, "...IN the World we live in, not all people have equal value. One American is worth hundreds if not thousands of Africans; one Israeli is more valuable than dozens of Arabs...." etc. Dogs in the West have better access to the sources of life such as food and shelter than poor Africans. More is spent taking care of dogs than is spent on the well being of millions of Africans who die of HIV/AIDs, malaria, malnutrition and so on. This is the absurdity that Hama Tuma presents to a world full of hypocrisy and con tradictions.

While I totally agree with symbolisms and contradictions with regard to African dictators, their Western Supporters, the enormous gap in wealth between the West and Sub-Saharan Africa, the effect of colonialism including the distortion of black history, I am not convinced that the burden of African absurdities should all fall on the external world. I believe that Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from lack of internal, local or national insight, vision and leadership. No matter how we cut it, the time for blaming outsiders for the ills of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia are and should be over. A change in mind set, in culture, in attitude, in thinking and in visioning is vital. Without self-examina tion and change, we will continue to be subjects of ridicule. Others will continue to dominate the intellectual world on how we are perceived.

Hama Tuma's Absurdities II: Give me a dog's life any day has made a significant contribution in surfacing many of the contradictions that afflict the continent from within--leader and political systems--- and from without---a colonial mind set and economic relationships--that still mirrors the vestiges of imperialism and colonialism.