THIS AND OTHER ESSAYS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A COLLECTION BY PAUL TIYAMBE ZELEZA, BARACK OBAMA AND AFRICAN DIASPORAS: DIALOGUES AND DISSENSIONS, AYEBIA PUBLISHING (Oxford, U.K.) and OHIO UNIVERSITY PRESS (Athens, OH, USA) in Fall 2009. LOOK OUT FOR THE BOOK!!!
Dancing with the Dragon: Africa’s Courtship with China
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A Solid View of Africa-China relations
Prof Zeleza
This is a sober take on the interest in Africa-China relations. As you emphasize, the assumption that every relationship Africa has with the non-African world must be a colonial one is utterly misplaced, and in fact more revealing of EuroAmerica's disdain for us more than of reality itself. As you say, we have emerged from colonialism because we have fought, and most Africans will just be as savy and cautious with China.
The other point you make that I like is that Africans have every right to be skeptical of having EuroAmerica as a business partner. Even in ordinary commerce, anyone would be wary of taking somone who is known to be unscrupulous as a business partner, and EuroAmerica has a history that is centuries long that proves it unworthy of our trust.
The caution that you call for in Africa's relationship with China requires that we distinguish the different interests that various Africans have. I think that the West may be right that our political elite are interested in another political superpower that will insure their power at home. This has been true for centuries - even before colonialism African emperors courted with European and Arab countries to secure their own power and aggrandize their egos. It is a reality that is not limited to Africa. If American presidents were dependent power within the country alone, the country wouldn't have invaded the Philippines, Vietnam and now Iraq. In fact, no American president can win an election without saying how he can flex muscles abroad. So I think that the Kibakis, Raila Odingas and other African politicians are primarily interested in China for power.
That said, I agree with you that the interests in China among academics, businessmen and other sectors of African societies are motivated by other priorities, and our role is to highlight these priorities. And as you say, the business done in Africa on the ground is, has always been and can only be done by Africans themselves. It is to our credit, not the World Bank or anyone else, that African economies are slowly emerging from the lull imposed on them by the West. Likewise commerce with China cannot thrive in Africa without being founded on the input of Africans themselves.
By the way, a glance at the classified pages of Kenyan newspapers reveals ads for Chinese language lessons.