This one of the great article that i read about africa lately. It is very honest and represent the state of affaire at this present time in Nigeria. A country with unlimited potential and all the factors neededto be the leaders of the continent. They got a POPULATION(more than 200Millions)which compare to other african state is a big MARKET on it own. They got some of the GREATEST BRAINS of the african continent, and the got an ABOUNDANCE of NATURAL RESOURCES, and they are the most PATRIOTIC people in the african continent. All this put together are the factors that are required for a country to be developped.

Nigerians are pathetic. Look at this whole situation. Instead of being proud of Ghana for it's achievements, or seeing what works there and requesting, demanding, or working to see it implimented in Nigeria we have written 400 articles about how nigeria is a horrible place just because Obama chose to go to Ghana out of 52 countries in africa, and not Nigeria.

This is so pathetic. Did the Spainish people cry when Obama went to Italy? Did the Poles throw a fit when Obama went to Russia?

Obama chose to go to Ghana, get over it, and most of all what mature minded human being would care?

Ghana is doing great. Im proud of them as a fellow african and wish to see the like minded set of honest reforms change Nigeria, but im not going to belittle my country because Obama Christ when to Ghana before Nigeria.

He went to Italy before Nigeria too, why not throw a hiss fit about that?

Please THISDAY, go and read this article in the Nigerian Guardian you would know the diffference between a good reporter and this very poor one. This Soyinka's paper is the main news in the Guardian. The Guardian reporter put this article so succintly and very interesting to read. THISDAY, made a mess of this article. THISDAY, you can either train your reporters well or employ more qualified people.

May I also use this to ask Mr Yar Ardua to sit up and let the people of Nigeria start to see changes in their lifes.

Incredible crap from a so-called laureate.

Man, you are naive to believe that Obama is some angel, some great believer in democracy. Sure, all INVADERS advocate democracy for the homeland, and preach democracy that supports their imperial interests abroad; and infiltrate any democratic formation that negates the will of finance capital, and make no mistake about it, poet, your Obama is in bed with US financial vultures; and who does know of the murderous hand of these financial vultures---from the enslavement of Africans to their oil projects in your own country, Nigeria?

You are better off writing in topos mythos, than in hard core, analytical political analysis.

But then again, poets have always been for hire in Africa and elsewhere.

I salute Prof. Soyinka for finding time to write this important article; and at the same time, salute the ruling class in Nigerian for being naive to the clamour of change in an ever changing world. President Obama´s choice is wise. period!

Something about us -- Africans seemn to push us into the path of negativity and backward thinking. Years ago, NELSON MANDELA CALLED FOR AN 'AFRICAN RENAISSANCE.' To this date, there seem to be no sign of an African renaissance taking place. Had we taken the wheel and gotten on the BALL ten years ago, Africa would not be in a position of begging, hoping and allowing foreign 'parasitic' nations to make deals with African nations for resources on ONE SIDE OF THEIR FACE -- WHILE ARMING AND PROMOTING GENOCIDE WITH THE ENEMIES OF AFRICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR FACES.

The fact that Obama did not visit Nigeria is of little significance if Nigerians and other Africans recognize that NIGERIA AND THE REST OF WEST AFRICA -- ARE THE FUTURE SUPERPOWER IN THE COMING YEARS.

It is a UNITED 'UNITED STATES OF WEST AFRICA,' strong, powerful, militarily powerful, and with the millions of Nigerians and other Africans of West Africa who contribute to the wealth of other nations -- HELPING TO BUILD A POWERFUL SUPERPOWER IN WEST AFRICA -- THAT WILL UPLIFT AFRICA.

Africans have to look to the past BEFORE THE FIRST FOREIGN INVADERS WHO DESTROYED THE AFRICAN KINGDOMS AND CIVILZATIONS OF WEST AFRICA.

We are very well aware of Ghana, Songhai, Mali, Kanem Bornu, Benin, Oyo, the Yoruba City States and other ancient civilizations of West Africa.

But are we aware that SOMEWHERE IN WEST AFRICA BETWEEN THE CENTRAL SAHARA TO THE BIGHT OF BENIN WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CIVILIZATIONS?

It was the ancient Zingh Empire and it was from the Zingh Empire that the first 'OLMEC' (Mandinga-Shi) civilization found in Mexico, almost 2000 miles accross the Atlantic had its origins.

African scientists years ago agreed that Mexico's 'Olmec' civilization including temple building, pyramid building, the worship of Venus as a 'war Goddess' (in the West Venus is the 'love Goddess), and the presence of over 22 giant collossal heads of basalt rock, with African hairstyle and features unique to people in Ghana/Nigeria -- IS PROOF THAT AFRICANS WERE ONCE A POWERFUL MARITIME CIVILIZATION.

West Africa's history did not begin with slavery. It began in the Sahara with the Zingh Empire over 20,000 years ago -- when much of the Sahra was still wet and fertile.

Today, the idea that ONE HAS TO LOOK TO THEIR ANCIENT RELIGIONS IS TAKING HOLD IN CHINA - just as it has taken hold in Europe. The Chinese do not abandon their history to concentrate on the period when the Mongols ruled China.

West Africa and African in general SHOULD NOT ABANDON THE 20,000 YEARS OF THE GLORIOUS ZINGH EMPIRE and only recognize the Ghana, Mali, Songhai and later civilizations.

African archeologists, scientists and researchers have a job to do and it is by KNOWING THAT HISTORY AND USING IT'S GREATNESS AS A CONDUIT TO A BETTER FUTURE -- THAT IS WHAT WILL HELP AFRICA.

That is exactly what the Chinese are doing today. They do not emphasize the Mongol Occupation as the only history of culture in China. The same goes for Spain, they do not emphasize the Al Mohad occupation of 700 years as the only period of civilization in Spain -- they remember the Roman and Celtic periods as well.

In the case of West Africa, African civilization goes back over 3000 BC, and it is documented ( Zakaria Sitchin, others) that in the year of 3113 B.C., Africans from what is today Benin sailed to Mexico under the leadership of Tjeuti Mez ( Mexico comes from Mez, say some historians).

http://www.raceandhistory.com AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS OF AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS 'A History of the African-Olmecs," http://www.authorhouse.com http://www.myspace.com/sexyaabooksculture

THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE

Africa has had about fifteen renaissances (advancement in culture) over the past 20,000 years. One of them was vaguely expressed in a movie called '10,000 BC,' except that the people shown as the Pyramid Builders were not African in appearance.

http://africanblackrenaissance.blogspot.com

However these fifteen renaissances occurred because every time there was cultural improvement -- beginning about 30,000 BC when the Sahara was wet, fertile and thriving -- a period of decline followed.

What led to declines and rebirths and renaissances?

Declines occurred when Africans began to loose faith in thier own power and abilities and began to trust the 'trinkets' of others.

Rebirths occurred when Africans recognized that in order to survive and thrive, we had to rise up and use our natural intelligence to create, produce and expand.

Renaissances occurred when we decided to unite and to IMPROVE ON THE MATERIAL THINGS WE USED. If we used 'mounds' to commemorate our ancestors -- we upgraded to PYRAMIDS. If we built small shrines, we upgraded to temples.

That basic and very important 'MENTALITY' OF MAKING PROGRESS -- is part of the development of the human mind. Humans and other animals want to move forward. No creature simply sits back and shrivles. Even the ant as small and as simple as it looks -- even the bee -- are highly organized and UNITE TO CREATE SOME OF THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD.

Why then can't we AFRICANS STUDY OUR HISTORY, RESEARCH WHAT WORKED IN THE PAST (Egypt, Cush, Swahili, Wagadu-Nok, Zingh, Igbo-Ikwu, others) and apply them today.

Yes, we may not like our ancient systems of KINGS AND RULERS -- SO WE IMPROVE THAT SYSTEM. We improve it to be a strong link and a support of modern governing as well as as continuation of the past.

We may not like our own arts and crafts and be tempted to accept the flooding of plastic goods from foreign nations -- but we must REVIVE OUR ANCIENT ARTS AND CRAFTS INDUSTRIES. We may have to develop a 'CLASSIC' period and a revival.

Instead of allowing 'parastic' companies from afar to take African art and textiles and make fake copies to resell -- means must be taken to protect these local and regional contributions.

Instead of allowing the various african alphabets, and African means of communications - like the 'talking drums' and talking harps -- African scientists must organize to make modern use of these gifts.

After all, you watch Chinese tv http://www.CCTV.com.cn and you see PEKING OPERA being revived by the Chinese. You see the Shaolin temples and Kungfu revived, you see the art of making silk, pottery, paintings and all types of arts and crafts revived.

AFRICANS WERE GIVEN THE BLUEPRINT TO DO JUST THAT ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, WHEN THE WORK "Susu and Susunomics," was published http://www.iuniverse.com http://www.myspace.com/sexyaabooksculture

GUESS WHO TOOK THE ADVICE FROM THAT WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE BENEFIT OF AFRICANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND BLACK PEOPLE GLOBALLY? The people in China, India and parts of Asia.

WHEN WILL WE APPLY NELSON MANDELA'S DREAM TO BRING ABOUT AN AFRICAN RENAISSANCE??

Or are we going to continue selling Africa to 'parasitic' nations who care nothing about African people in their home nations, but are only after Africa's land, resources and a place to throw their excess populations?

How long are AFRICANS GOING TO SIT AROUND AND ALLOW PARASITIC NATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO GENOCIDE IN PARTS OF AFRICA?

Therefore, the solution to these attacks on Africa is for the UNIFICATION OF WEST AFRICA, THE UNIFICATION OF SADC and the creation of strong, populous and powerful African SUPER POWERS.

Soyinka's reaction is an accurate, but sad testimony to a nation speedily progressing backward to the stone age. Each time I read such articles from such well informed senior citizens, I weep for the over onw hundred million Nigerians who are victims of the mass looting by a few degenerate crooks. It is all the more frustrating because the perpertators are deaf, dumb and blind. They glory in their ill-acquired loot, and feel that every other person with a dissenting voice is either unpatriotic, misguided, or uninformed. This is one country where the leaders have no shame. Whatever happens under their watch, they would not resign. Rather, they receive cheap traditional titles and pay charlatans to sing their praises on the pages of newspapers. What a show of shame.

I don't see any reason why Nigerians should complain about Obama's visit to Ghana.....cos i believed Obama's would surely have his reasons for chosen Ghana not Nigeria or his home town.

So, i think we should stop the complaination and work effectively on the act of selfishness in our country.

Am highly elated to see my innermost feelings for my country reeled out in such a way that it can compete with the best articles by any reporter. We need attitudinal change in this country. we need a change in the way we amass wealth at the detriment of our system and people.. Am proud of our NOBEL LAUREATE WOLE SOYINKA