Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.YOU CONTEND in your editorial 'The world watches, waits and hopes' (24 April) that 'Africa's experience since the withdrawal of the colonial powers has been awful'. Might it not be more apposite to suggest that Africa's experience since the arrival of the colonial powers has been awful?
Africa under colonialism was ruled as a promontory of European interests. Colonialism was trade, investment and enterprise for the benefit of an alien society. Power lay beyond Africa's borders. African trade and free enterprise, far from being encouraged, were ousted. Colonial Africa became a continent of bureaucratic rule, with armies to prove that government existed by conquest. Though regular electoral competition within a European- style constitution became the 'pubertal rite' of independence, the colonial system had been busy locking up its opponents and had never dreamt of paying them salaries to oppose.
The dislocation of African economies and the dissolution of African cultures occasioned by colonialism must have long- term effects. The sediment of colonialism not only lies deep in African society but permeates the West's own mindset. Hence the unconscious omissions and suppositions which mar verdicts on Africa by those charged with saying what counts as true.
C Wolfe
Brentford, Middlesex
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments