DETERMINATION IS IT

 Africa has had a chequered history. It has produced heroes, heroines and villains; men and women who worked (or rather struggled) their way to the top of the ladder of life. Heroes and heroines who from nothing became legends and had their names embossed in the annals of African history.

A uniting factor of these men is that they persevered; they drank from the ocean of determination. Even in the face of obstacles and stumbling blocks, they triumphed.

These legends drew from an inner strength that glowed even when all other lights had been extinguished. Determination made them who they are. 

David Star Jordan once said:

“The world turns aside to any man to pass who knows where he is going, the ability to make up your mind inspires self-confidence. It gives you inner power and it commands the respect of your fellow men”.

Similarly, Mahatma Ghandi said:

          “Strength does not from physical capacity, it comes from indomitable will.”

There is no doubting the fact that it is this will that drove Martin Luther King Jr to lead a mass struggle for the racial equality that saw the twilight of racial segregation and colour discrimination in America forever.  His famous “I have a dream” speech have won accolades and has been celebrated ever since. To cap it up, this young preacher’s dream came to fruition 50 years down the line when the United States of America elected her first African –American president, Barack Obama.

It is this same strong will and conviction that led the late Nnamdi ‘Zik of Africa’ Azikiwe to the freedom of Africa struggle.

In one of his famous speeches, Zik stated:

          “I believe in the God of Africa.

          I believe in the black people of Africa.

I believe that it is not the will of the God of Africa to sentence the black people of Africa to servitude in any form forever. I believe that there is destiny for the black people of Africa and that such destiny can only be realised successfully under the aegis of free independent African nations.

“I believe that by a firm resolve on the part of the black people of Africa, undaunted by fear of imprisonment exile or death, unaffected by ostracism or victimisation or persecution, the black people of Africa will live in free and independent African states in the community of a world society of free and independent nations.

I believe that if I am obliged to pay the price of leadership in the cause of African freedom, no matter how extreme and severe are the penalties, the prosperity of the black people of Africa shall enshrine my memory forever in the national pantheon of Africa.

I believe that Nigeria will pass through the acid test of oppression, to which we are subjected and shall emerge triumphant.

I believe that the freedom of Nigeria shall come to pass and Nigeria shall become a sovereign state in our life-time, in spite of the might of the oppressor.

I believe that the God of Africa has willed it”

A pan African par excellence, Zik, had not only fought for the liberation of Africa from neo-colonialists but also fought for the independence of Nigeria.

Little wonder, he rejected his Christian name, Benjamin in July, 1934 after the British Empire Game Council refused to allow him to compete in the Half Mile/ One Mile race at the British Empire games in 1934, on technical grounds of skin colouration.

It is with these on my mind that all our efforts should be geared towards eliminating the relics of colonialism and ensuring that we preserve, promote and protect those attributes that make us one United Africa.

It is with these on my mind that my friend Chinedu and I drove to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to wait for a colleague to arrive.  The milling crowd at the departure and arrival lounges only meant that there was no sitting space.

Tired of standing and eager to explore the building, I urged my friend for an adventure. Bored by standing in one corner, he quickly accepted. I sited a lounge upstairs as we climbed the staircase.

It was built of glass so one could see a handful of men (whites) drinking and chatting.

The first thought that crept into my mind was to go and purchase a cold drink from there. Chinedu zeroed in on the hunk of a bouncer staged outside the door. As if thinking in my line, he suggested that we enter the lounge for a drink.

Immediately I reached for the door knob, he put a strong arm across the door preventing me from touching the door knob.

Angry, Chinedu queried his actions.

“For private members only”, he answered.

“Or whites, you mean”, Chinedu retorted.

Hey mister, watch your mouth or you will be thrown out”, the dark hunk said feigning anger.

Chinedu now visibly enraged fired back:

“You? throw me out? Unless you do not like your job and your person. “ Chinedu replied.

I had known Chinedu not for long but I knew he had a character of not forgiving. He can bear a grudge for years.  He was the type that waited patiently at a dark alley and shoved a knife or an axe into his victim. I also knew that if the brute had done as much as touch us ?( which Chinedu was actually waiting for ) he would come back days later, track him down, and at a quiet place and time and unknown to the bouncer, knife him.

Chinedu’s eyes and his tone told the brute that we were no kids in the threat game.

“Get out of here”, he ordered without raising his voice.

“If you dare abuse me, I would tell you alot about violence and who loses more. You are just a cheap guard for whites in your country collecting tips and your wages”, Chinedu snarled.

He was actually expecting the brute to either slap him across the face or shove him aside but none happened.

Rather, another bouncer headed our way.

“What is the problem?, he asked his colleague.

“You are lucky today. The devil would have visited you cheap dog. Keep guarding them.” Chinedu finished and dragged me out.

Angered by that last comment the other guard instructed Chinedu to come back and explain himself. But Chinedu signalled him to come and meet him.  This friend of mine is one daring guy, I mused.

“I was ready to blind that brute instantly,” Chinedu told me when we were back at the departure lounge.

“...and later you track him down....”I added smiling. He smiled.

The fact is that my friend resented any intimidation from anybody, big or small. He is determined to prove that he was anybody’s match anytime. Even if you beat him today, it does not mean you have won. He would wait for his opportunity and win you twice as much.

He idolized Ho Chin Minh, the revolutionary leader who perfected the art of guerrilla warfare and liberated his people from France and US.

According to Ezechukwu P.O (2002: 113) Ho,

          “Was a seasoned revolutionary and passionate nationalist obsessed by a single goal: independence for his country. Sharing his fervor, his tattered guerrillas vaulted daunting obstacles to crush France’s desperate attempt to Indochina; later built into a large conventional army. They frustrated the massive US effort to prevent Ho communist followers from controlling Vietnam. For Americans, it was the largest war and the first defeat –in their history, and it drastically changed the way they perceived their role.

Ho had in 1946, as the war with the French raged cautioned them thus, “you can kill 10 of my men for every one of yours, yet even at odds, you will lose and I will win.” He won.”

Elsewhere in Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah employed that same singularity and sincerity of purpose to incite African re-awakening in the minds of Africans. His fight for liberation of Africa yielded fruits later when Ghana was given independence.

“As he explained in his famous “Nation of Destiny” speech in July 1957, “Thus we take pride in the name of Ghana not out of romanticism, but as an inspiration for the future.

At long last he announced to the cheering throng, the battle has ended. Your beloved country is free forever”. (Ezechukwu 2002: 63)

Liberation is a continuous exercise. Liberation is a movement. Liberation is the re-awakening of the sub-conscious of men that we have alot to do lest we lose out.

We have to protect the African movement.

We have to protect African values.

Determination is it. It is with determination that the Great Nelson Mandela subdued apartheid in South Africa. It is with determination that Kenneth Kaunda liberated his country (read Zambia shall be free). It is with determination that Kwame and Zik liberated Ghana and Nigeria, respectively.

I say today, that it is with the same determination that we can work to protect our rich cultural heritage which has been eroded.

Like the late Sage Zik of Africa, I believe in the Neo African Movement; I believe in the rich cultural heritage of Africa. I believe that if we all work round the clock, Africa would be the best for us, for our generation and generations to come.

I believe in Africa. 

Chukwudi

marcandrick@ymail.com