The Grammar School is a hundred and sixty years old!
Yeah!!
While not necessarily being against those who feel the milestone should be celebrated, I’m much more concerned about the very last verse of the School Song,
Africa will surely rise,
Fail we not in high emprise
Hidden here the secret lies.
Up and on!
To all intents and purposes, there’s no doubt about the fact that Africa is a very big failure. If we talk of slavery and colonialism, I’ll ask us not to go there at all.
I’m of that position because before the trans-Atlantic slave trade there had been slavery in Africa.
Considering the fact that most African countries gained their independence more than half a century ago, and considering the further fact that we have access to comparative politics, history and even a much better information system, I really don’t believe African nations have done relatively well.
Not at all!
For instance, at what stage of development were the Asian countries in the sixties? What about the Arab countries?
It’s no news that most of them have left Africa behind.
Indeed, far, far behind!
European and American countries are definitely in a world of their own. They are making life easier for their peoples.
And everytime too!
I’ve always said the problem with African countries is not the leadership. It’s rather that of the citizenry. When leaders know people think they are actually doing them a favor by ruling them, they tend to misrule.
You know, the case of Africa could generally be likened to that of the dog and its tail. Normally, the dog should be wagging its tail but it’s unfortunate that in Africa it’s the other way round.
The citizenry is to blame in a lot of ways. For instance, how much are teachers who mark the final papers of SS III pupils paid in Nigeria. The Examination bodies are aware of the fact that if a set of teachers should refuse to mark the papers, they have others who are ready to mark for a lesser rate.
A close friend recently told me they were discussing a ghost writing project with someone. At the end of the day, I was told they were offered eight kobo per word. For those who did not know, when you ghost write, you lose all rights to that intellectual property.
I’m using both of these instances to show that knowledge is not valued in Africa. Where you don’t value knowledge, you submit to the rule of nimcompoops.
That’s the tragedy of Africa!
We can go on and on but for the sake of the celebrators, I mean the C.M.S. Grammar School and all those who are associated with it, let’s
Pop champagne!
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