Has Africa Learned Nothing?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Africa has been fooled once. Liberators have come before, Bibles in hand but dirty money and sword in the other hand. With false promises of freedom from local tyranny, and self rule and civilisation, and like fish that knew no better, we swallowed and lay docile while our lands were plundered of people and resources.

I do not blame our fathers for that. They knew no better. But we do.

We live with the effects of the first advent of Western excursionism into Africa to this day. The racism, the institutionalized marginalization of African Americans, the impoverishment of the African continent, the corruption born out of the instinct to save as much for oneself as you can out of a barely-there pie, all of those issues are with us today*.

So when the West, faced with economic tension suddenly developes a thirst for liberating people all over again, why do my fellow Africans welcome them with open arms? Why do they not tell the West to stay its hand and let us handle our issues ourselves? Why are we so eager to accept the same lies, knowing fully well what the first time cost us?

Why are we so ready to play the fools again? For what dirty ideology?

Steve Jobs: The Best Things

"Your time is Limited So Don't Waste It Living Someone Else's Life"-Jobs

A lot has been and will be said about the revolutionary technologist, artist, leader and businessman who was known as Steve Jobs. The philosophy he lived by, and the powerful products and lifestlyes he created are acts of spectacular genius. But more than all these, what is most memorable about him to me is the convinction of his principles, and the way he communicated them.

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose"

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

"Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."

"We're here to put a dent in the universe."


Look at the words he believed in. Look how aggressively he lived for them, spoke out about them, stuck to them, imbibed them into every single thing he did. And tell me why his life was not destined for legend. Imagine if we had a Steve Jobs in every sector, healthcare, education, politics, finance. How would the world be?

As we reflect on his life, just know this. In an age where every belief is welcome, its still important to believe in the right things. But more important than believing in them, connect them to a higher purpose. Design, build, sing, act, write, inspire as if it was the only thing you came to this earth to do. Perfection is not possible, but like the Promised Land, we can come close enough to catch a glimpse of it. Thats what Jobs taught me. And that, is worth more than a million iPhones.

So don't live your life to build the next Facebook, or Apple, or do some grand gesture that will put you in the realm of greatness. Instead, do every single thing as if it was the greatest, like Jobs did. He said it best when he said:

"Things don’t have to change the world to be important."

And with that I say

RIP

Steve Paul Jobs