Once again, i feel a sense of shame for the organisers of most charity events in the UK. A good example is the soccer aid which was organised by Robbie williams who is an ambassador for Unicef.While i relived the moment and enjoyed the match between England and rest of the world(ROW) which feature stars like Robbie Williams, Gordon Ramsay, zola, Diego Maradona, Desailly of France, David seaman, schiemechel e.t.c, i still can’t understand why they did not invited any African players or celebrities. The match which was played at old trafford stadium attract over 75,000 spectators and was viewed by millions all over the world via sattelite and local TV. I took my time to read more about the soccer aid and discovered that the money raised from the events go to poor countries in Africa. I take my time to reflect on the reasons why Africans are not involved in whatsoever charity events that concerns them. I wonder why George Weah( world best player 1995) was not invited, what about Rashidi Yekini(African footballer of the year 1994), or what of Kalusha Bwalaya of Zambia as well as Segun Odegbami. Over and over again, we are still been breastfed like babies, and it seems the west enjoys the prestige of playing the “big brother’ ,throwing fleshless bones at us like dogs.
Such was the case during the Live Aid event organised by Bob Geldof in July 2005 which features artist like Bono, elton john, madonna e.t.c. At the original event which was performed both in the USA and the UK, there was’nt any African ( i am not talking about African-American) who was invited to perform at the live gig.The concerned African musicians who are willing to stage such events did so in Johannesburg and made Africa proud by making their voices heard.
While i understand and gracefully thank the west for their continued support in ensuring that millions of children do not die in the famined area of Africa, i think its high time the west stop barricading African talents and start including ‘us’ in decisions that affects us all.
We should be allowed to make decisions as to eradicating poverty in Africa. Funding alone wont solve our problem, throwing bones at us like dogs and parading our children on National and sattelite TV as a doomed nation in the name of fund donation won’t help matters. Involving us in practically everything will bring a better sense of purpose and a better achivement in eradicating poverty in our continent.
When are we going to be allowed to work for our own liberation of poverty, when are we going to feel a sense of responsibility, when are we going to bear our own cross and work alongside great minds to make Africa great?…………………………until we decide to bear our own sins, until the west decide to lay our future in our hands and guide us toward maturity, then will i clap and doff my hat that they’ve done a very good job!
For more information about the socceraid charity match please Click here Â
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