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-edged autocracy.

The science of division is another segment of it. With academic confidence, Western institutions classified us into rigid racial boxes—Negro, White, Yellow—as though human beings were color-coded products. Ethnic identities that once coexisted naturally were reframed as immutable sources of conflict: Hutu/Tutsi, Amhara/Oromo. Even gender, once straightforward in many of our societies, was turned into a sprawling catalogue of labels and imported debates. Under the banner of “progress,” these interventions often deepened fractures instead of promoting harmony.

#NoMore: A Turning Point

Then came a shift. When Ethiopia declared #NoMore, it wasn’t just a national campaign—it symbolized Africa reclaiming its voice. We rejected:

  • The myth that Western institutions understand our realities better than we do.

  • A version of democracy that mutes our own political will.

  • The branding of African unity as extremism.

  • Imported divisions that corrode our social fabric.

Africa chose to step into its own adulthood.

The New Paradigm

The direction of our journey is now in our hands. To our Western partners: it’s time to retire paternalism and adopt humility. #NoMore stands for:

  • Respect for African sovereignty,

  • Listening before prescribing,

  • Collaboration built on equality rather than custodianship.

Africa’s message is clear: we welcome partnership, but not control. Work with us—or step aside.

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