MADAGASCAR 2

I am also one of those who believe African herbal medicines need to develop. We cannot continue to maintain 15,000 BC methods in the 21^st Century modern world. We are still using the methods of Adam and Eve in the age where all of us are using smartphones, the internet, and social media to read this. An invention that Adam and Eve could never have dreamed of. The great Egyptian Pharaohs could never have dreamed of the internet. Alexander The Great could never have dreamed of electricity. But we can’t imagine living without it.

But look at us, we are trying to use the methods that Adam and Eve used to cure themselves in a world where there are ISO, WHO, clinical testing, etc. How can we dare do this?

The African man has refused to understand how the world works. And until he does, he cannot be successful in it. While understanding it does not guarantee success, understanding it will provide him with insight on what to do and what not to do.

Before the 1800s, Japan was a successful thriving civilization. But soon, it began experiencing threats from western states- the west wanted to colonize it. After some brief clashes where the Japanese were killed by western guns and weapons, it told itself the truth that it cannot fight the western nation in the way that it was. It had to transform itself. From 1868-1912, Japan changed itself in very remarkable ways. There were major political, economic, and social changes. Japan went around the world to learn, in fact, one time it attended a war between two western nations just to learn how western countries fought their wars. Some of the changes Japan brought into place include the constitutional democracy, state powers, 1,400 miles railroad network was built. Telegraph lines linked all the major cities by 1880. Banking systems were institutionalized. And yes, their clothing and architecture were also influenced.

Photo by João Silas on Unsplash

In the 1800s, Japan could clearly not win any single battle with any western country. By the 1900s after the Meiji Restoration, Japan fought Russia and won. Japan also faced China, a country that was largely larger than it. A country that once saw it as a younger child. Also, Japan became a major world power, the west respected it and listened to it. It went to the table, not as an oppressed but as a MAJOR WORLD POWER. Another aftermath of that was that Japan attacked the US, China, Britain, and the allied nations during World War 2. The same country that was once almost without any means to fight except swords had become powerful enough to attack its oppressors, clearly, something has changed. Of course, Japan lost the World War. Two bombs killing over 400,000 people were dropped in that country. It was destroyed beyond recognition. A few years later, Japan was back and better. It became a leading economy around the world. Leading the world in technology. For several years, it was the second-largest economy. And even today, it is the 3^rd largest economy. Always amongst first world countries. In almost all good ratings, Japan is amongst the first 5.

You may say that Japan lost itself to the west, which will be a half-truth. Japan changed itself in order to function in a world that understood only one language. Moreso, Japan retained some major values and Japanese traits. It was an intentional, selective change that unleashed the power of the Japanese people for the modern world. Their decision was based on facts and reality. Rather than sit on the sidelines and always cry foul, they changed themselves, and today, Japan is having a seat at the table of the world.

My point is simple, we Africans must stop been the underdogs here, we must think clearly and selective be part of the modern world. There are many examples of things we are not doing right. Two examples;

1.       Languages: Our languages have not developed for several years, yet every day you hear the same statement that our languages are fading away. Languages can only survive if they are developed. We still have African languages that do not have dictionaries. Having Bibles in local languages is a great thing, but having the dictionary of that language is also very important. Let me ask you, what is internet in your local language? There’s probably no word for dictionary in your local language because the language has refused to develop. Our languages must meet up with the times, there is no choice. Innovate or die.

2.       Local medicines: like I told you, my dad makes herbal medicines. He has done for as long as I can remember. How many people has he treated since he started? He doesn’t know. How many people have recovered due to his treatment? He doesn’t know. Does he have a website? No. Does he have a social media account? No. What are the demographics of his drug administration? Moreso, the traditional medicine field in African is rarely regulated. We don’t know how many people have died as a result of taking a traditional doctor’s medicines, and we don’t know why. We also don’t have a system where you can sue these people for wrong concoctions. And many other questions that can arise in modern times. But all the traditional medicine persons I know don’t have the answers to these questions. There’s simply no way for them to claim to want a table at WHO headquarters.

One of the facts many people do not know is that Professor Albert Rakoto Ratsimamanga, who was a pioneer of the convergence for tradtional and modern medicine in Madagascar, has long advocated that the traditional medicine sector be reformed, it is the major reason why Madagascar has such grand standing traditional medicine institution.

Folks, the world has a system of operation. We are the underdogs. Crying foul doesn’t change the world order. We don’t have the power to change the world order at the moment. And we can’t change things until we transform enough to run it.

We can change ourselves and have a seat at the table, then set better world standards that promote inclusiveness and equality, for now, stop fulling my ears and screen with “African racism” thing. You will not like this, but every continent and nation is racist, including Africa.