THE EDITOR, Sir:
THERE IS absolutely no doubt that the idea of Africa's 'darkness' and lack of any trace of civilised history was carefully contrived by the European intellectual community.This negative attitude towards Africa's past was crystallised and set in motion by the well-known German philosopher, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831). In his Philosophy of History, he stated categorically that "Africa is no historical part of the world because it has no movement or development to exhibit", and that Blacks are incapable of education and culture "as we see them at this day, such have they always been."
He further demonstrated his racist ignorance by trying to separate Egypt from the rest of Africa when he stated that "Egypt... does not belong to the African spirit".
It should be noted that during the 19th century, and better part of the 20th, a flurry of similar denigratory statements about Black Africa resonated throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Thus we were told by Richard Burton (1821-90), a founding member of the London Anthropological Society, and a seasoned traveller in Africa, that "the Negro will not improve beyond a certain point", and that "mentally he remains a child". Others like Professor A.P. Newton, a European historian, stated explicitly in 1923 that "Africa had no history before the coming of the European".
But no remark was more derisive than that of Professor Hugh Trevor-Roper of Oxford University. He declared in 1963: "Perhaps, in the future, there will be some African history to teach. But at present there is none: there is only the history of the Europeans in Africa. The rest is darkness... and darkness is not a subject of history." He then said that it serves no useful purpose to "amuse ourselves with the unrewarding gyrations of barbarous tribes in picturesque but irrelevant corners of the globe".
In view of this arrogant European collective attitude, it is small wonder that the people of colonial Africa and all peoples of African ancestry throughout the world were denied access to their past.
It may be argued that a nation without a past is like a group of people travelling without a guiding light - the past is a nation's guide to the present and the future. Without this historical beacon, a nation is bound to flounder.
Blot out a people's history, and you blot out their ability and motivation to move forward and be creative. Blot out a people's history, and you blot out their identity and source of inspiration. Blot out a people's history, and you instil in them the feeling of impotence - the fear of confronting problems head-on and solving them. Obliterate a people's history, and you instil in them the crippling forces of self-doubt and insecurity. Obliterate a people's history, and you destroy all traces of the common unifying cultural thread in their social and national fabric.
If a person is told over and over again that he or she is from a worthless background, sooner or later this person will be inclined to internalise and accept this negative portrayal. Thus this negative condition invariably paves the way for this person to reject his or her cultural background, and accept another.
The European grand design to blot out the history of all peoples of African ancestry, was done through educational socialisation. The idea that only European history was worth exploring led to the hegemony of Eurocentrism in the colonial educational system. For example, the British diligently devised an elaborate system whereby many Africans were gradually and systematically Europeanised. The Europeanisation of these Africans was so successful, that the late Walter Rodney, a noted Guyanese historian, remarked that some Africans were so estranged from their roots that "like Blaise Diagne of Senegal, they chirped happily that they were and would always be 'European'."
However, it is noteworthy that a significant number of people of African ancestry throughout the world have taken steps to reverse the damage inflicted by Hegel and his European school of thought. They are realising in increasing numbers that the history of Africa preceded that of Europe. By and large, Blacks are more conscious of their rightful place in history than ever before. Consciousness is of primary importance, for it is only through consciousness that any group of people can analyse their inherent problems, and then take positive steps to solve those problems.
If only all Blacks were aware of the great achievements of their ancestors in Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Songhai, Mali and other parts of Africa, they would be inspired to realise their full potential.
I am confident that as time goes by, a great historical awakening will eventually take place among all peoples of African ancestry. This new awakening will undoubtedly instil in us a sense of pride, and self-confidence - the confidence to be self-reliant and innovative instead of relying on external forces to guide and aid us all the time.
I am, etc.,
RUPERT JOHNSON
r.b.johnson@sympatico.ca
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada, M1C 3M7
