Wednesday 1 December 2010

Gonorrhea and Jesus: Fela Kuti's Guide to Imperialism

Here's how Fela Kuti, the great Nigerian musician, defines colonialism:

 "At first it's quite nice having new faces around. But then you start noticing things going missin'. Ashtrays. Towels ... Petroleum. Diamonds. People! And what do they leave in return? Gonorrhea and Jesus."

It reminds me of a Ghanaian friend who told me that Geography lesson 1 was a map of Ghana's tarmac road network on independence day.

It led from the emptied diamond mine down the port. Yoink!

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