Decolonizing The Mind: Africa Has A Long Way To Go

I made a post on Substack about why you should avoid people, basically Africans, who adopt fake accents. Beneath the post, an argument, which I considered civilized (and I'm grateful that a sane app like Substack still exists in this insane world), ensued.

The argument really opened my eyes to the gravity of neocolonialism in Africa.

Renowned writer, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, in his book Decolonising the Mind: The Politics Of Language In African Literature,argued that our stories should be told using African languages. This has been the major yardstick of argument among African scholars and academics. African books should be written in African languages like Igbo, Yoruba, Swahili, and the rest of them. The movie and music industries should tell their stories in African languages. The argument is that it establishes our belief in African culture and independence from the West. This will make room for global dominance and fair competition between different cultures.

However, while we are hellbent in search of global reputation for our culture, we fail to realize how deep neocolonialism has eaten into our daily activities as humans.

We fail to question the reason behind the power tussle between world powers to control and make decisions for Africa. Why does every industrialist from the West perceive Africa as the next opportunity? The answer is clear; in their eyes, we are still savages, horses to be dragged around.

Moreover, there is the continuous economic support from international organizations. This support often comes during wars and hardship in various countries in Africa. It helps to ease the effects of the recession going on in that particular country. However, beneath the almsgiving, in most cases, there is always a hidden interest from the world's most powerful countries.

How many African countries can boast of funding their annual budget through internally generated revenue? In 2025, the Nigerian government proposed a 2026 budget of about 54.4 trillion Naira. Expected government revenue was about 34.3 trillion Naira, leaving a deficit of 20 trillion Naira. This is a country that prides itself as the "Giant Of Africa," with one of the largest crude oil reserves on the continent. Ironically, this country does not even refine crude oil. It exports crude oil but does not refine it.

During the start of the Ukrainian war, African countries went into a frenzy because of the cut in food importation, like cereals. This is how attached we are to the West.

Nobody even speaks about the unending war between African and Western fashion. Comparisons have been made between the Met Gala, the most prestigious fashion event in the world, and the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Cultural Day, a day specially dedicated to showcasing African fashion and style in Africa. The event is held annually in Lagos, Nigeria. People have made derogatory comments about what African fashion should look like. It is really appalling that Africans have placed Western standards on the African mode of dressing.

Worse still, there is Africa's dependence on the technology invented by the West. How can we make use of social media platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram and expect to be independent? Countries like China have developed social media platforms that work in their area. This is an intentional way to break free from Western dominance and control. Unfortunately, Africa is stuck using Western social media platforms. But how can we claim to be an innovative group of people when we keep consuming instead of producing?

If one can predict the future, I will say that Africa will end with neocolonialism. Is there a need for adjustment? Is there an escape from this death we call life? Absolutely, yes.

However, there is a need for radical change in the way we perceive ourselves as Africans. The conversation must not be limited to African literature. It should be extended to other important aspects like technology and invention.

If steps are not taken to achieve the overall independence of Africa, poets and writers will keep dropping lines like:

"Afrika! The woman who is married to many husbands but has no gold to her name. From her wretchedness rises the riches that crown the kings of the world."

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