Opinion
Part 1: A Viable Development Model for the Black World and Diaspora
By Dennis Matanda
It is most frustrating to be cut off from the soil. Those of us who live in this cyberspace of the Diaspora spend countless hours dreaming up schemes that will, first, allow us to return home in a cloud of ‘enlightened from abroad’ glory. Secondly, most of us wake up each day and have another ‘bright’ idea that we believe will suddenly improve the living standards of those we left at home and, again, allow us to achieve that glory cloud when we return home.
The truth, unfortunately, is that much as we might try or be enlightened, our colleagues, counterparts, age mates and bedfellows on the ground in either Africa or the Caribbean make incremental steps that are, exponentially, greater than the ones we make on either this side of the Atlantic or that side of the Indian Ocean. Simply, even if we sent money home or built all these ideas, nothing beats being on the ground at home. Thus, if we really want to develop our respective countries, we should just return home.
Yes … A good chunk of those living in the West, East or anywhere else away from their homes could actually bring more than positive change if they went back home today.
An Archbishop Sentamu is the second most powerful man in the Anglican Church around the world. If he were home in Uganda, he’d be a kingmaker, a saint, a savior and the kind of figure that pulls many out of the doldrums that have been created by a regime that’s been in power for too long.
In the Caribbean, a person like Wyclef Jean – an international music sensation – was a major factor in Haiti’s last presidential elections. On the other hand, one could argue that Jamaica’s various superstars have not necessarily amounted to much. However, the response is that if Bob Marley [RIP] run for office on a platform of reform with a solid intellectual platform, there is a chance that a groundswell would follow him.
Just ask the guy who beat Wyclef Jean.
Also, a country like Kenya could benefit from having people like John Githongo – a former ombudsman of sorts – and Dr. Mwangi Kimenyi of the Brookings Institution back in that country. Penultimately, whereas they are adding value in their current Western domiciles, their own profiles could lead to some kind of veneration or redemption for their own people.
Conversely, a case could be made for the Diaspora staying put.
Olara Otunnu, who served as an undersecretary at the United Nations for donkey’s years returned to Uganda, got elected to head Uganda People’s Congress in its competition against the sitting president, lost and then also got embroiled in all kinds of shenanigans. Nonetheless, this could happen to anyone. Alacrity, notwithstanding, Otunnu’s presence in Uganda probably raised the profile of his party and his people. Either way, we will not know his value until his role has run its course.
To the rest of us, going home is a scary thing. We think of our current rat race life and wonder if we can afford to live away from our commitments, possessions, luxuries and this state of mind brought on by this newfound home.
Have we become soft? No. Things away from home are, indeed, different and people do dance to a different rhythm. We work and get paid either weekly or biweekly. And of course, it also helps that the conversion rates for dollars, pounds or euros – into kwacha or shillings are pretty good.
Once you start the process of sending money back home, the feelings associated with bringing positive change to your people are intangible. Closely attached to this, the enthusiasm with which casual laborers, nurses and even glorified chambermaids travel back home during the holidays, is charmingly ego boosting. This, too, can be addictive in terms of giving one something to look forward to while bearing the indignities of their Western or Eastern existence.
However, there is another reason we are still here: It’s the Stockholm syndrome, you see. Yes … Our new homes have gotten into our heads and are actually replacing the soil of the motherland. Many of us have children here. Our children have friends here. We have friends here. We have property, jobs and even rhythms.
Yes – we might have had all these hopes and dreams of returning home. But these are simply hopes and dreams. The reality is that we have new homes, new lives, new identities that would not have a place if they were supplanted into the heart of the dream.
Again, this does not mean that we have gone soft. Being abroad is very endearing – in spite of all the negative things that come with it. While we might miss our relatives and although the rest of our elementary school classmates continue to increase this footprint in places that ought to be ours, we also have a role to play at home. After all, we in the Diaspora contribute a significant portion to our respective countries.
In recognition of this, various countries – from the Caribbean to Africa [and even in states like Haiti, Somalia and Djibouti], a constant is the Diaspora outreach projects sanctions by governments.
Reasons aside, the rationale for people going home is twofold: First, it combats the brain drain scenario various “third world” countries have to deal with, and secondly, it can fundamentally force the home countries themselves to deal with a whole section of returnees.
A new class of vocal people can be good for the socio-economic environment of the various countries. Not only are these returnees sometimes a little more eloquent than the friends and relatives they left behind months or years ago: They are now considered a little more polished. They are a challenge to the status quo. And sometimes, this is what can make development happen faster.
To be continued…
Dennis Matanda
Editor – editor@thehabarinetwork.com