What about the published story of the Indian owned factory in Lagos where Nigerian employees were/are routinely beaten, chained down, called racist names, and abused in other ways? What of the Chinese factory in Lagos where Nigerian workers were locked inside to prevent them from taking breaks. The factory burned down, killing the Nigerian workers because they were locked in and could not escape.
In Kaduna, an Italian construction worker made a young Nigerian man carry his potted plant in the trunk of his car. Because the trunk didn't close, the spectacle of a white man driving with a Nigerian in his trunk holding a potted plant was such a dramatic illustration of the racist disdain with which privileged foreigners treat our people in their own country. In this incident, there was thankfully a Nigerian brave enough to reclaim the humanity of the abused Nigerian. This is no urban legend, and I am not embellishing or exaggerating, as I am not even a good story teller. A friend who witnessed the incident told me the story. Anyway, a Nigerian army officer who saw the ugly sight tailed the Italian's car and forced him to pull over, whereupon he ordered his arrest and the release of his human cargo. I am told that, in righteous anger, the officer rained a few slaps on the Italian before giving him a tongue lashing on the intolerable racism of his act. He then proceeded, I am told, to threaten that he would make sure the Italian was deported even as Nigerians who gathered at the scene showered praises and prayers on this patriotic and proud Nigerian soldier. The tragedy of it all was that the Italian, from his contrite pleas, didn't even see what he did as racist!
So, yes, the particular details of each incident or situation may call for nuanced and detached analysis, but we need not narrow the discussion to residential segregation. What Kwabena posted is a window into a broader reality of how "lighter-skinned" folks treat Africans in their own countries.
--
There is enough in the world for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed.
---Mohandas Gandhi
-- On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 10:10 PM, Pius Adesanmi <piusadesanmi@yahoo.com> wrote:
Kwabena:Sometimes these things are not as straightforward as you make it here. I recall a similar incident about three years ago when NEXT ran the story of a whites only apartment building in Lagos. I believe it belonged to the Okoyas or so. Anyway, the story of that Naija apartheid went viral and got the proprietors of the apartment block into trouble with the state government. My hostility reduced when I read the explanations of the perplexed manager of the apartment complex in newspaper interviews. You see, the building was in one of those new ultra-capitalist, hyper-wealthy areas of Lagos. There are some places in Lagos where Obama cannot afford accommodation. Anyway sha, the lady explained that beyond a certain rent bracket, no Nigerian, no matter how wealthy, would "pour all that money into rent". There is point where it is culturally unacceptable "to still be paying rent". If a two-bedroom apartment goes for almost 20,000 dollars per month somewhere in Lagos and you move in - even if you can afford it - your friends and your family will start emergency consultations to "wash your head" for "wasting all that money on rent" instead of "building your own house." Deopka Ikhide will say that it is the mother of your father's ninth wife that is "doing you" and she must be appeased. Moses Ochonu will say that he warned you not to eat kolanut at that compound when last you traveled to the village. The pentecostal members of your family will rebuke the dominions, powers, and principalities that are "turning your head". In short, the owners of that apartment complex reasoned that their rent bracket is not what any sane Nigerian, no matter how wealthy, would want to pay and they kuku decided to make their apartment building for "whites only". That, of course, also assumed that only whites are foolish and mugu enough to pay their crazy rent - (they accepted only dollars). I was somewhat appeased by that interview because I have some "area uncles" that we still abuse to this day for paying rent in Lagos or Ilorin when "they can afford to build" their own houses. In fact, I must remember to ask my mom if she has found out "who is doing" my uncles. The only trouble is that the Okoyas should have allowed their potential customers to make that choice and not predetermine things on the basis of race for Lagosi! Who knows whether that yeye Italian racist in Accra was selling kenkey bruschetta and shito marinara at a thousand dollars per plate and reasoned that no sane Ghanaian would move near his restaurant?Pius
From: "Akurang-Parry, Kwabena" <KAParr@ship.edu>
To: "usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 November 2011, 15:16
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - 'Whites only' restaurant closed down [in Ghana]--We live in a neocolonized country - Ghana - where we worship and adore "whiteness" The "Me buroni," bluntly put, "my white superior" syndrome that we have constructed to demean ourselves. The superior "whites," include Lebanese, Syrians, Chinese, Indians, etc. and they swagger over Ghanaians and other "Black" Africans in Ghana. We privilege "whiteness" and allow non-"Blacks" to dominate and exploit us so why are we so shocked - see discussions on Ghanaweb - that a "Whites only" restaurant had been established in Osu-Accra? We are disempowered in our own country, and I wish that we could go back to the Nkrumah era that conscientized and empowered us!------------------------------------------'Whites only' restaurant closed downGovernment has closed down a seafood restaurant in Osu, Accra for breaching Ghana's tourism laws.
The Atlantic Lobster and Dolphins Ltd is also alleged to be operating a policy of racial discrimination.
Elizabeth Okoro, a young woman with Ghanaian and Nigerian parentage accused the Italian owner of the restaurant of making racist comments.
According to her, she visited the restaurant with her Spanish friend but was shocked to learn that the restaurant was opened to whites only.
She explained the owners of the restaurant were operating a new policy in which only whites were allowed to register and become members of the club.
When she attempted to register to become a member on her second visit, she was told only whites were allowed to become members.
Elizabeth Okoro said she was stunned by the utterances by the restaurant official and vowed to resist any attempt to discriminate against blacks in Ghana or any other part of Africa.
She then blew the alarm through social network sites in a bid to raise awareness.
It appears her steadfastness has yielded dividend with government taking a prompt action against the restaurant, albeit with a different reason.
Deputy Tourism Minister James Agyenim Boateng has visited the restaurant and told Joy News' Israel Laryea the restaurant has been closed down.
He said the Atlantic Lobster and Dolphins Ltd is operating as a catering service and should have registered with the Ghana Tourism Board.
He said the closure is not premised on the allegations of racial discrimination but failure by the company to adhere to legislative instrument.
According to the deputy Minister, the Italian owner confirmed making the racial comments but described it only as a joke.
James Agyenim Boateng said that joke cannot be made at our own backyard.
However, the Italian owner in an interview with Joy News' Araba Koomson denied being racist.
Anthony Daliou said he is married to a Ghanaian wife who has a Ghanaian baby and could not have made such a racist comment.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
There is enough in the world for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed.
---Mohandas Gandhi
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
No comments:
Post a Comment