Move over Priests, this is the ultimate confession and soul searching therapy; the best way for the rich (nations and individuals) to exorcise their demons and renew their being, black is now the new white. From George Bush, Bob Geldorf, to Missy Elliot, you name them, all the known celebrities in the planet are already on the bandwagon.

 

Make Poverty History is now one huge global campaign, the symbolic white colour rubber wrist band is the season’s must-have fashion accessory; all other NGOs and charities have since tagged along and have come up with their own replica versions. I am even planning to buy some of these ‘designer’ wrist-band accessories.

 

But beyond all the euphoria and music as seen in the global Live 8 events, I wonder if some of the people even understand what the real scores are, what poverty is, I mean the type of poverty described in Marie Corelli’s Sorrows of Satan, or maybe we should find consolation in the words of Jesus Christ, that the poor shall inherit the Kingdom of God (Luke 6:20) and also God’s word in Deuteronomy 15:11 that the poor will always be amongst us.

 

What amazes me the most in all these, is the apparent lack of understanding by some of the ‘poverty campaigners’ of the real issues at stake, in most cases there seems to be a top-down approach to the issue of poverty reduction and alleviation, without the active involvement and to the neglect of the poor themselves, some of whom have been variously described as the downtrodden or the wretched of the earth.

 

I also wonder sometimes if the various media companies that churn out poverty -related programmes are not perhaps doing Africa and her poor a disservice, there seems to be much emphasis on the negatives out of Africa, without any emphasis on the positives going on around Africa, such media onslaughts if anything leaves further psychological damage and scar on both the victims (the poor) and other Africans, the one-sided commentaries are not the best PR for Africa in her current quest to attract foreign direct investments, they also don’t support the calls by certain African leaders and commentators for the West to promote and encourage free and fair trade rather than the present inclination towards aid. The rich man / poor man theory which breeds an Oliver Twist mentality is therefore still alive and well.

 

The elusive investors need to see some positives, they need some assurances that there is a local market for their products and services, that there is ready availability and supply of skilled labour, that there are at least some form of infrastructure to support local operations. Somehow, Africans seem to be playing into the hands of the vile tastes and motives of the western media, but we should at least know when our intentions and purposes are being best served.

 

We should be entering a new era of positively reporting and projecting what’s also good about us, this is not to say that we should white-wash and cover up our inefficiencies but we should approach and thread cautiously, a balance and a conscience is needed right now so that 10 years from today, poverty in Africa may no longer be a favourite and pitiable topic around dinner tables in the west, as a result of biased and mischievous T.V documentaries.

 

This brings me to the works of the likes of Sorious Samura and most recently Jerry Rawlings, both fine and distinguished gentlemen in their fields. But for some reasons I feel that they are feasting on the poor, through their various television programmes. Dying and death should be dignifying, and should not be subjects of macabre orgies, even if some western media are willing to pay for their audience to ogle on people’s suffering, in order to increase ratings. It is wickedly to turn Africa’s poverty crises into reality television. This is indeed in bad taste.

 

About the G8 summit, as expected all known anti - globalisation groups swooped down on Gleneagles in Scotland, during the summit. There were also massive calls and predictions of anarchy from the usual rent-a-mob crew who were bent on disrupting the summit. My question still remains: On whose side were the protesters and the G8 leaders on? What real agenda were they pursuing? What were their motives?

 

If the G8 leaders are on the side of Africa’s poor, why did they face so much hostility? And if the protesters were on the side of Africa’s poor, was this the best way to put their points across? I am amused when I see some of these anti-globalisation protesters who in the name of ‘equitable wealth distribution’ wreck havoc in host cities, I find some of their antics amusing because you will normally catch the protesters wearing Nike, Adidas or Reebok trainers, and Levi’s jeans, and that is after they have had their fill at McDonalds or KFC, the very same businesses they have grudges against.

 

Also, some African leaders mouth - off and complain against the aid they receive from the west, they prefer trade instead, fine but I have been waiting to hear about any that will gladly hand back the aid money they receive, reject the debt cancellation deal they have been offered by the West or announce their plans to enable local businesses to compete against companies from the west in a free and fair trade situation; Also some commentators argue that debt forgiveness is well deserved, that it is a reparation of sorts, for Africa’s plundered wealth during the great chicaner and scramble for partition. Well, but the colonialists have since left Africa and we don’t seem to have done much for ourselves ever since, so I think that we should shut up, and collect the aid or grant or whatever it is called. If we don’t want the conditions attached to aid, then we shouldn’t make ourselves vulnerable to being given aid. Full stop.

 

I conclude by saying that some people out there seem to enjoy playing Russian roulette with poverty, but the real poor whether in Africa, Asia, Europe and America actually need food, clothing and shelter, the very of basics of life. Enough of the politics.

 

Uche Nworah is a freelance writer and lives in London. He is currently on holidays in Nigeria. [email protected]