Read This Before You Donate Another Dollar For Africa
Rescue Thyself:
Change in Sub-Saharan Africa Must Come from Within
Author: Sylvanus Adetokunboh Ayeni
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, New York, NY, 2017
I must admit over my many decades of life, I have indeed
donated considerable amounts in time and in charitable dollars to improve the
educational and poverty conditions of Africans, and still do. I have made two
trips there to participate in some of these projects and chaired charities that
are involved in the process. But something has always concerned me about the
whole thing. Ayeni’s book confirmed my suspicion. The rest is up to me, and
you, and the kind of African leaders which may or may not emerge in the days
ahead.
Dr. Sylvanus Adetokunboh Ayeni was born and raised in
Nigeria. He is a retired neurosurgeon, living in the U.S. and has for years been
involved in the education of children in Africa as well as in attempts to
improve Africa’s healthcare sector. If anyone knows about the ins and outs of
Africa’s decades old problem of little to no progress, it’s Dr. Ayeni. He delivers his message with incredible doses
of passion, love, logic, and statistics.
The book opens with a quote from Roman Statesman Marcus
Tullius Cicero that reminds me of the attitude of a recent American President.
I was hooked.
The author divides his work into three major sections. The first one sets out and debunks some
detrimental misconceptions both Africans and the rest of the world may have
about Africa and Africans. Here he deals
with misconceptions related to the creation of mankind, the purpose of life,
and the essence of nationhood.
Part II deals with some fundamental requirements for
change, including visionary leadership, production vs. consumption (especially
of natural resources), solid infrastructure, and meaningful education programs.
In Part III, Ayeni talks about some other things that
need to change if even all the requirements he identified in Part II were to
somehow miraculously appear. These
conditions he says are “inward” ones implying they must come through the heart
and through the mind. They include a change
in beliefs, desires, and behavior (especially of leaders); a change in
governance and the how the Rule of Law is achieved and adhered to; and a change
in the roles of exterior donors and NGO’s.
With respect to beliefs, desires, and behavior, Ayeni engages ancient
material involving Socrates and ‘the Ring of Gyges’, which I thoroughly enjoyed
and learned much from. A main idea that emerges is the need for leadership to
start thinking about the masses and not themselves.
The reader reaps a lot of knowledge about each of these
areas as he/she works his way through the book. Admittedly, for some of us who
are more type A in our personalities, there is some repetition but the author
feels, and helps us understand, how one cannot overstate what is obvious and
yet no one has been willing to tackle it head on – perhaps as he himself often
says, “it won’t be easy” and “there are no simple or easy answers”.
For me personally, Rescue Thyself not only taught
me much, but I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s knowledge of literature and
history, and his careful use of both. His quotes from many sources are
appropriate and well placed. And many of his own are also worthy of being cited
elsewhere. One memorable one for me,
when he debunked any excuse Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) might have as to why it is
still in trouble was “Except in the Garden of Eden, no society started out
rich.” Another one is: “The color
of the skin does not determine the quality of the output of the human brain.”
I have underlined much of the book for future reference on various topics. Clearly, his focus is SSA and he explains
exactly what countries are included in that designation. He very succinctly
tells us what was going on in SSA while the Renaissance, the Reformation, the
Age of Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution were taking place
elsewhere.
His use of statistics alone is worth the price one may
pay for the book. One could prepare many a presentation from what Ayeni gives
us through statistics.
He goes where others have feared to tread and this is to
ask the question, “Is democracy the appropriate form of government for the
nations of the SSA?”
But the bottom line of the good doctor’s message is
this: it is time for the foreign-aid community to rethink its strategy. That includes global organizations like the
U.N., individual countries like the U.S. and Canada and others, NGO’s,
missions, denominations, churches, and individuals. And if you think your
support of “digging wells” in SSA or supporting foreign schools is the way to
go, Ayeni will cause you to think again.
In his last chapter as well as his epilogue, the author
gives some very practical suggestions as to what can be done now. And he also
warns us of what may well happen if these things are not done. Scary.
This is a must read for anyone working with NGO’s in
Africa. It’s also a must read for
pastors and mission leaders, and of course the individual who cares about
helping his or her less fortunate brothers and sisters in the world. Well done, doctor.
·
Ken B. Godevenos, President, Accord Resolutions
Services Inc., Toronto, Ontario, May 22, 2017. www.accordconsulting.com
It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.
