by Lewis J Rhodes

Created on: January 12, 2010

Before the onset of our so called civilized world, and its invasion into the bowels of Africa, there were a few cultural traditions which might shock the objective reader.

Africa was controlled by a strict set of laws and rules, all of which were designed to maintain a stable society in an environment which was both harsh, and in some circumstances extremely difficult to survive. Africa, in short, was a world where various nations struggled to maintain dominance over  terrain, and battled to maintain stability where nature suggested Darwin'ssurvival of the fittest was easily proved.. Africa seemed to the so called civilized world, a place of savagery, where barbarity was the norm.

Of course Christianity confirmed these fallacies, its understanding of the environment limited to the interpretation of a book  by people who needed political and phiphilosophical mileage. 

There is another side to Africa, another side which few people have encountered. It is a side which extends beyond that which eastern and western philosophy even contemplate. Africa's reality extends into volumes, but perhaps a few words of wisdom might just tempt readers to investigate further.

To start with, did anyone reading this short article ever really know that Africa and its people have a basic understanding that  life is  fragile, and that any traveller who happens to arriveat a village, must receive the hospitality of that village until they are ready to move on? It does not matter if they are a stranger, or indeed an enemy; Africa accepts weakness until strength returns.

Do the readers also know, that African's shout when they speak, because they have nothing to hide in their conversation? When there is whispering, it is a time when others need to worry. Talking loud might annoy some, but it is also a sign of sincerity and genuineness.

Africa also asks the male to enter through a doorway first. This is common sense, the male checking it is safe before allowing the female to enter. In the west we are stupid enough to send the female through a doorway without consideration for her welfare.

African males do not carry the heavy parcels. This freedom allows them to ward of any attacker should they try to steal from, and indeed rape their women folk. The African male must be ready, unlike us who are stupid enough to place ourselves in a situation which makes us useless to defend an attack.

Even if Africa is starving, it has unwritten laws which force it to share with others who are starving. We have much to learn from Africa, we have so much to learn, that our future may actually depend on us understanding that our origins come from a world which needs our research and not our scorn.

Africa is the future: if we care to look beyond the mess made by colonialism. China is aware of the benefits in Africa and its peoples, perhaps we should also be concerned with its future?

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