Subject: Africans abroad

September 14th, 2009 - ANJ Online

By Sabella Ogbobode Abidde

The vast majority of Sub-Saharan Africans who live outside of the continent are in exile. For these Africans, their condition may either be self-imposed or forced by the prevailing conditions in the continent. And the general conditions in the continent are not healthy or enriching, or conducive to personal growth and happiness.

Although conditions differ from one country to another, by and large what we have is a continent where a sizeable number of the people - especially those between the ages of 18 and 45 - cannot wait to go into exile. They cannot wait to get out of their respective countries. Nigeria is an archetypal example of a country where, if embassies assured travel visas, 70 per cent or more of the college students will leave of their own volition.

The majority of those in exile either have nothing substantial to return home to, or their own governments do not want them back. We also see that in some cases, the political, economic, social and cultural space is not large or absorbent enough to accommodate exiles; in other cases, some exiles get blinded by the security, comfort and predictability of their host countries so much so that going back home becomes less attractive. Nigerians, for example, habitually point to the lack of basic infrastructure, poor personal and human security, and a sickening and corrupt political system. To be sure, there are other discouraging and encouraging factors, but mostly, the aforesaid accounts for why most exiles remain in North America and European countries.

Whether one knows it or not, acknowledges it or not, living in exile is horrible. It is one of the most painful of all human experiences. The pain and the anguish is less for most who vacated in their pre-teenage years. For them, acculturation and assimilation is much easier. With time, their memory of the old country fades; cultural chips become less powerful or insignificant; and ties to friends and family may become loose or non-existent. Essentially, therefore, they lose one country and gain another; lose one set of identity and gain another. They transfer their love and loyalty to their new country. For most of these early exiles, they will know one country and one country only. This is generally the case and the pattern unless of course a mother or a father or an influential relative kept the flame and the desire for the old country alive.

The United States, with which I am most familiar, is home to millions of African immigrants. Data may show that the US now houses more Africans than Western and Eastern Europe combined. For a while, Europe - especially Britain, France, Portugal, Belgium and Germany - was the preferred destination for Africans, particularly because of their colonial relationship. In other words, until recent years, colonial Europe was the port of call for Africans. Today, the whole world is present in the US: Every language and culture and nationality is present here. They are present here for different reasons. But above all else, people come here for the freedom, the opportunity and the option to live in manners that are guaranteed by US law and customs.

However, sooner or later, immigrants - African immigrants, who this essay is about - will come to realise that the longer one stays in this country, the deeper the pain and the agony. They may have big cars and big homes; they may have beautiful wives and successful children; and they may also have investment portfolios that are the envy of most. Yet, most will and do feel empty. Every so often, they travel to the motherland to see friends and family. Still they feel empty. Most act and feel like tourists in their own father's land (as most can only spend two to four weeks at a stretch before returning to the grind and their predictable lifestyle). There are those whose eyes swell (with tears) at the thought of returning to Oyinboland. It can be lonely here. And they know it.

If you were a 'nobody' before coming to the US, and if you are still a 'nobody' after all these years, the ache and the grief may not be much. What may matter to you is that you are now a success compared to your previous life. But if you were 'somebody' before your departure, and you are still a big deal here, you are more likely to feel the pain. Even if you were a 'nobody' in your previous life, but once you become 'somebody' here, you begin to, after a while, feel a gradual pain - the type of pain that get more discomforting and unbearable as time passes. First the pain and then the anguish, followed by a sense of uselessness and sadness. If left unchecked, acute sense of loss and actual depression may set in.

An accomplished Nigerian author and teacher once told me: "Most of the professors and successful African immigrants you see in this country are sad and depressed... especially the professors.. . most are angry, and are not respected by their non-Black peers.' From his vantage point, 'most of these Africans are better read and smarter than most of their counterparts, but they generally are saddled with supporting or subservient roles; they have to defer to their non-black colleagues.' To make matters worse, 'even their students complain about their accent and mannerism, and assume they must be less qualified than other professors, especially the whites.'

Faced with such a situation, 'they are angry at their home government, angry at their colleagues, angry at their students and subordinates, and are also angry at themselves.' But within their enclaves and between their own people, 'the African professors are the most pompous, most condescending and most irritating. Most cannot explain simple concepts or simple phenomenon without resorting to antiquated language... they have the need to impress.'

Indeed, the western world - and increasingly, South African universities - are filled with Nigerian and Ghanaian professors. I can't think of a colleges or university, anywhere in the United States, without at least two Nigerian and or Ghanaian teachers or administrators. I also doubt if there is a medical establishment, anywhere in the UK, Canada and the United States, without Nigerian and Ghanaian doctors and nurses.

In all these places and beyond, I doubt if the majority of these Africans truly enjoy being there. The financial compensation is good, but my thinking is that they would rather be home: Helping their own people and helping to advance their own countries. But here they are - needed primarily for their skills and services; needed just to help develop and advance a country that is truly not theirs. How terrible it must feel to be just a hired hand.

If you are a South African, your lot in life may be a lot better. The same goes for those from Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, and a few other countries. In the West African sub-region, Ghana is the newest darling, home to quarter of a million or so Nigerians. If you are a Nigerian then you know you are violated twice over!

Official: FCC to propose 'Net neutrality' rules

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The head of the FCC plans to propose new rules that would prohibit Internet service providers from interfering with the free flow of information and certain applications over their networks, an official at the agency said Saturday.

The Federal Communications Commission chairman, Julius Genachowski, will announce the proposed rules in a speech Monday at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, the official said on condition of anonymity because news of the announcement had not been formally released.

The proposals would uphold a pledge Barack Obama made during the presidential campaign to support Internet neutrality ? the equal treatment of Internet traffic. That would bar Internet service providers such as Verizon Communications Inc., Comcast Corp. or AT&T Inc., from slowing or blocking certain services or content flowing through their vast networks.

Without strict rules ensuring Net neutrality, consumer watchdogs fear the communications companies could interfere with the transmission of content, such as TV shows delivered over the Internet, that compete with services the ISPs offer, like cable television.

Internet providers have opposed regulations that would inhibit the way they control their networks, arguing they need to be able to make sure applications that consume a lot of bandwidth don't slow Internet access to other users.

"This is about whether I can turn off my cable TV and watch TV over the Internet," said Dave Burstein, editor of the DSL Prime broadband industry newsletter. "Comcast cares about this because they don't want people to turn off their cable TV."

The FCC adopted four principles on Internet policy in 2005. Two years later, it said it would study the business practices of high-speed Internet providers and consider whether a principle of nondiscrimination in traffic should be added.

Burstein thinks the FCC probably will adopt a fifth principle on nondiscrimination as part of the expected new rules.

The FCC's existing net neutrality principles have focused on high-speed Internet access delivered over wireline systems. But Google Inc. and other big technology companies, as well as consumer advocacy groups, have called for rules that would require wireless networks to be similarly open to all devices and applications.

UBS analyst John Hodulik said extending the principles to the wireless arena is going to be "a bit difficult because the regulation of wireless is very different than the regulation of the wireline networks, where the FCC has played a much stronger role."

"In wireless, these companies typically have paid billions of dollars to buy licenses ... and now operate in a very independent market with absolutely no government subsidies or government involvement," he said. "So it would be a new era of regulation for what is a very competitive market."

But the rules' effectiveness "really depends on the details," Hodulik added. "These could be just relatively vague rules that prevent obvious forms of discrimination, like blocking a Web site or mowing down the packets from a competitor's service."

The FCC official declined to elaborate on the new rules, but said the agency wants to create a baseline standard for all platforms that deliver the Internet.

The proposed new rules were reported earlier by The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

"We are concerned about the unintended consequences that Net neutrality regulation would have on investments from the very industry that's helping to drive the U.S. economy," Chris Guttman-McCabe, a vice president at CTIA, a wireless trade group, told the Post.

The FCC began wading into the issue even before Genachowski became FCC chairman. Last year the FCC rebuked Comcast for blocking or delaying some forms of Internet file-sharing. Comcast agreed to stop the practice.

A spokeswoman for Philadelphia-based Comcast declined to comment on the FCC's planned announcement. A spokesman for Verizon of New York did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

It beats me hollow to think that that special someone you once loved dearly, you once cherished so much, and could even die for, suddenly becomes your arch 'enemy.'

As you look at the woman you once loved, her once juicy lips look dry and pale. Her eyes which you once loved to stare at,  you avoid making eye contact.  Her hips which you loved to watch as she walked in front of you, suddenly you think they are saggy.  Vice versa she now looks at you and thinks to herself that you are an old beer belly good-for-nothing fellow.  It is amazing how we can suddenly see a bright thing as dull, or a nice person as evil. What is going on? 

You use to go places and do fun things on the spur of the moment. Then suddenly all that fun cames to a halt when you start hearing words like: "My back hurts,"  "It's a waste of money," "Go by yourself," or "I don't feel like it."

Ouch!

 AQUARIUS: Jan 20 - Feb 18
You have an inventive mind and are inclined to be progressive. But
why are you so careless and impractical?
PISCES: Feb 20 - Mar 23 You have a vivid imagination and often think
you are being followed by the F.B.I. and C.I.A. Why?
ARIES: Mar 21 - Apr 19
You are the Pioneer type and hold most people in contempt. Why are
you so quick tempered, impatient and scornful of good advice you
could use?
TAURUS Apr 20 - May 19
You are practical and persistent. You have a dogged determination.
Why do you work so much?
GEMINI: May 20 - June 20
You are a quick and intelligent thinker. Why do you expect so much
from other people?
CANCER: June 21 - July 22
You are sympathetic and understanding to Other people's problems.
But why are you always putting things off?
LEO: July 23 - Aug 22
You consider yourself a born leader, so why do you pussy foot so
much?
VIRGO: Aug 23 - Sept 22
You are the logical type and hate disorder. Why do you think
everything should be perfect?
LIBRA: Sept 23 - Oct 22
You are the artistic type and have a difficult time with reality. If
you are a man you are more than likely a master at what you do. Why
are most Libra women such great cooks?
SCORPIO: Oct 23 - Nov 21
You are shrewd in business and cannot be trusted. Why must you
attain the pinacle of success with such little sense of ethics.
SAGITTARIUS: Nov 22 - Dec 22
You are an optimist and very enthusiastic. You have a restless
tendency to rely on luck since you lack talent. Is that why you are
such a drunk?
CAPRICORN: Dec 22 Jan 19
You are conservative and afraid to take risks. You don't do much of
anything new, because you are scared to death of the outcome. Is
that right?
I hope that you have enjoyed reading all these Good Humor
Horoscopes.  
Comments are always welcome.