Africa: a continent with history of oppression

 

By: Mustapha Abdullahi

Africa is a continent blessed with abundant mineral resources like crude oil, gold, diamonds, and other natural resources. Every African country has its own rules, regulations, norms, and values that vary across the continent. However, Africans faced difficulties and oppression from European countries before gaining independence.

Before the arrival of Europeans, Africa was in a relatively good state, but there was still much work to be done in various areas such as farming, architecture, and other activities. European countries maltreated African countries during colonization, and even after independence, they continued to hinder progress by cheating and exploiting them.

The history of Africans reveals that they suffered greatly at the hands of Europeans. Christian missionaries came to Africa for the slave trade, and foreigners took Africans as slaves. The British transported about two hundred million Africans through the Sahara and Atlantic, resulting in many deaths due to hunger and other challenges.

Despite the challenges, Africans are blessed with many successful people such as doctors, mechanical engineers, and other professionals. These people have made significant contributions to the national level, and some have become great leaders like Nelson Mandela from South Africa, Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa from Nigeria, among others.

Unfortunately, many Africans have no solidarity with each other and lack a sense of community. Many Africans travel abroad for rest, study, enjoyment, or to build bigger homes and businesses. However, they neglect their native countries and do not invest in their communities.

It is painful to see that foreigners refuse to give Africans their properties back after their death, and this is unfair. Africans should be rewarded for their hard work and success, even after they are gone.

To rebuild our continent, we need to correct the present and focus on educating people to understand the challenges we face. We must learn from our mistakes and work towards a brighter future for the next generation. Africa is not a graveyard of Africans, and we must work together to create a better future for our continent and our various states across the countries.

Written by Mustapha Abdullahi, HND II Student of the Department of Mass Communication at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi State.