Posted on 06/07/2005 6:52:54 AM PDT by Pikamax
Africa must learn the boring stuff By Mark Steyn (Filed: 07/06/2005)
'DJ Attacks Live 8 Line-Up As 'Too White'," ran the headline in the Independent on Sunday. No good turn goes unpunished, and the trouble with all the good turns lined up for the Rock Against Bush mega-bash is that they're overwhelmingly of the Caucasian persuasion.
That's the crux of the "row" that "broke out" over the weekend between Bob Geldof, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and Andy Kershaw, Jockey of the Discs at the British Broadcasting Corporation.
"If we are going to change the West's perception of Africa, events like this are the perfect opportunity to do something for Africa's self-esteem," said Kershaw. "But the choice of artists for the Live 8 concerts will simply reinforce the global perception of Africa's inferiority." And when Midge Ure gives you an inferiority complex you know you've got a self-esteem problem.
In this epic clash between St Bob and DJ Andy, one recalls Henry Kissinger's observation on the Iran/Iraq war: it's a shame they both can't lose. I've always had a certain regard for Bob Geldof, and it's disappointing to see him lending his name to a feeble bit of poseur politics chiefly aimed at certain Western leaders who are entirely blameless for Africa's current woes and severely constrained in their ability to do anything to alleviate them. So I reckon Live 8 is a dud, with or without Midge Ure, Pat Boone and Val Doonican.
On the other hand, I've always quite liked those radio shows where Andy Kershaw takes a tape recorder to Niger or Mali and comes back with the latest groovy sounds. But come on, man, what a lame-o complaint.
Given that you and Bob and "Make Poverty History" and all the rest are as one in your indestructible conviction that Africa's such a hopeless case it needs to be put on an ever-more lavish drip feed of Western "aid", it's surely a bit late in the day to begin raising self-esteem issues. I'd have low self-esteem if I'd been taken on by Western do-gooders as a permanent poster child for the world's irredeemable losers.
Bob and Andy agree that paternalism and condescension are the only ways to deal with Africa, they're just quibbling over the particular form of condescension. After all, Kershaw's remedy for avoiding the "reinforcement" of "global perceptions" about Africa would surely reinforce the oldest stereotype of all - that say what you like about these darkies, but they've got the most marvellous sense of rhythm.
The point is we all know Africa can produce wild, vibrant, exciting jungle rhythms. What's unclear is whether it can produce anything boring, humdrum and routine. Accountancy firms, for example. I mentioned in The Spectator a few weeks ago the extraordinary number of US tax returns that are now prepared by accountants in India.
Small hospitals in America have their patients' CAT scans analysed overnight by radiologists in India. These and a thousand other niche businesses were not facilitated by government leaders meeting at international summits. That said, government leaders did not actively obstruct their creation and growth, as governments do all over the Dark Continent.
It's hardly news that Western pop stars are so deeply concerned about Africa that they're willing to climb into wacky gear and caterwaul geriatric rock hits in a stadium for a couple of hours every decade. But would they be prepared to outsource the book-keeping for their music publishing to a guy in Ouagadougou or Niamey?
That's tougher than another spasm of feelgood agitprop aimed at that brave band of guilt-ridden Western liberals who got such a frisson out of wasting their money on the tsunami appeal they're itching to waste a ton more. (One quarter of all the tsunami aid sent to Sri Lanka has been sitting on the dock at Colombo since January, unclaimed and/or unprocessed. Maybe St Bob could do Sitting on the Dock of the Bay for his next charity single.)
As long as Western progressives are divided into those who wish to keep Africa in a backward subsistence agriculture economy and those who wish to keep Africa in a backward subsistence agriculture economy but if the rude fieldhands break into something catchy enough when Andy Kershaw's passing they'll be in with a shot as the warm-up to Bananarama at the next all-star charity gala, the do-gooders will have no useful contribution to make to Africa's future.
According to the World Bank's Doing Business report, in Canada it takes two days to incorporate a company; in Mozambique, it takes 153 days. And Mozambique's company law has been unchanged since 1888. In the midst of the unending demands that Bush do this, Blair do that, do more, do it now, would it be unreasonable to suggest that, after 117 years, the government of Mozambique might also be obligated to do something about its regulatory regime?
Meanwhile, next door in Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe's government is being given hundreds of thousands of tons of emergency supplies from the UN's World Food Programme. At the press conference, James Morris, head of the WFP, was at pains to emphasise that the famine was all due to drought and Aids, and certainly nothing to do with Mr Mugabe's stewardship of the economy. Some of us remember that during the 2002 G8 summit, also devoted to Africa, Zimbabwe's government ordered commercial farmers to cease all operations.
But still neither the UN nor his fellow African leaders will hear a word against Mr Mugabe. Listening to Mr Morris, the old monster must have laughed so hard his Chinese-made rubber penis fell off. (A popular Harare rumour, which I mention only in the hopes that old 1970s supergroups will organise a "Codpieces for Africa" fundraiser. It's outrageous that dictators should have to make do with these cheapjack Chinese models.)
The issue in Africa in every one of its crises - from economic liberty to Aids - is government. Until the do-gooders get serious about that, their efforts will remain a silly distraction. But, if you want some black music to cheer up the silly distraction, I recommend the lyrics of Andy Razaf, nephew of Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar. If they ever clean up their kleptocratic act, Ain't Misbehavin' would make a great group anthem for Africa's heads of state. Until then, more than a few of their hapless peoples must wonder, "What Did I Do to be so Black and Blue?"
Steyn nails it again. As long as the socialist thugs continue to rule the various African nations, they will be basket cases. The best thing they could do is rebel against their governments and petition to join the US, but that will not happen for several reasons...charges of neo-colonialism, the cost to our economy of bringing them up to our standards....
Not to be too much of a cynic here, but could that be because Geldoff's trying to appeal to an audience that is mostly white, guilt-ridden rich white liberals, who consider themselves to be Africa's "Great White Hope", the only thing that keeps the Africans from descending into abject savagery?
I wonder how much, if anything, our "black leaders" here in this country will contribute to the effort? Besides maybe Bill Cosby, I mean.
"The point is we all know Africa can produce wild, vibrant, exciting jungle rhythms. What's unclear is whether it can produce anything boring, humdrum and routine. Accountancy firms, for example."
That is just absolutely, spot-on brilliant!
Blame corrupt leadership,racism,famine,marxism,whatever you want for Africa's problems.The bottom line is that Africa needs to solve Africa's problems,and imo that's never gonna happen.
Americans should be thankful we only have Mexico on our southern border and not the sub-Sahara.
If they didn't have oil, they'd be another sub sahara...
Your right,we've got our hands full with Mexico.Similar situation,millions living in poverty,natural resorces undeveloped,and of course rampant corruption.
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