The Benevolent Guardians: A Satire on Western Patronage in Africa
How fortunate we Africans are—or so we’re told. For generations, Western powers have cast themselves as our guardians, treating us like perpetual minors who supposedly cannot see, hear, or think for ourselves. They claim to perceive our realities better than we do, to interpret our voices for us, and to define democracy in ways that leave little room for our own agency. Their “guidance” has always come wrapped in the language of benevolence, even when it limits our freedom. What began as colonial extraction—packaged as a friendly exchange in which taking far exceeded giving— has simply evolved into a modern doctrine: accept what we prescribe, or brace for the consequences . Today’s benevolence often carries the quiet force of coercion. From dictating what we consume to influencing our political choices and even shaping our social values, the hand that claims to guide often ends up controlling. Their democracy, in practice, can feel less like empowerment and more like a soft-edg...