By Prince Bill M. Kaping’a Political/Social Analyst
Although one may not necessarily agree with some of the issues UK-based blogger, Lillian Mutambo, has the audacity to raise, at times she shares views that speak straight to our minds leaving us scratching our heads in awkwardness!
This morning for instance, she opined about the UBUNTU culture amongst the Nigerians which she claims to be absolutely amazing! Unlike us Zambians, once a Nigerian navigates through the stringent VISA restrictions and makes it into the UK, they waste no time facilitating the migration of their kith and kin.
At the possible risk of provoking the fury of our compatriots in the diaspora, I’ll cite a practical example that seems to tie in with this assertion.
A while back, I found myself in the UK at the invitation of British friends. Sensing that I was probably missing akabwali with ulumanda, ifisashi and ifinkubala……a glass of umunkoyo within reach, they engineered a dinner invitation for me at the home of a Zambian lady married to a Nigerian.
“Bill……life here is tough,” she sounded irritated. “When you get back home, please tell the people they are better off in Chibolya shanty compound than attempting to cross oceans to come here. I’ve to keep two jobs to survive!”
Shortly, the husband got back from work……a towering, affable fellow like most Nigerians. As soon as the wife darted off to the Kitchen to check on how the caterpillars were coming along, I took the Nigerian to task, immediately. I asked him whether he missed home.
“Do I miss home?” he wondered aloud, his distinct accent betraying him. “My papa, is here! My mother is here! My sisters and brothers are here! Some of my friends from the village are here. My brada…..how can I miss home ooh?”
As we congregated around the dinner table for the great feast, I couldn’t help but notice that their two kids were having a challenge skillfully shaping lamps of nshima into small orbs, with their hands, before dispatching the same into the mouth as I was doing, joyfully. I actually caught them stealing quick glances at me on a few occasions as I helped myself to generous portions of ifinkubala……….yummy! Yummy! Yummy!
I could tell the kids were suffering through the meal! These are ‘kuma yadi’ kids used to roast chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and cheese pudding…….not what was on offer that evening!
My mind kept rewinding the events of the night as I took a ride on the tube back to my hosts. Why didn’t the Zambian lady want any of her relatives or friends here? If life was indeed that hard in the UK, how come the Nigerian had managed to summon his entire village here?
I have a word of appeal to those in the diaspora……..please, stop being selfish. Stop slamming those mahogany doors on our faces! We also want our children to come to England and enjoy…….to wrap white napkins around our necks as they try to imitate our former colonial masters and enjoy Shepard’s pie, peas, carrots and gravy with fork and knife!
Where did I see this story before?
Assisting a brother in need would either be termed tribalism, nepotism or corruption in Zambia. A very senior friend in the mines has failed to get a lowly paid job for his brother, he expects us to assist him find a job yet he sits with the people that make those decisions. It’s typical of many Zambians, however, there are a few that are quite helpful. By this I don’t mean that when you have an opportunity then you should instruct the HR to illegally put your 15 relatives on the Parliament payroll!
Pweeeeeee
This is true………..
But again , our people lack drive………
Desire might be there , but there is no drive and incentive…………
You can’t be expected to do everything……..
Some of them would even go as far as asking for money to buy a pen to fill in the applications……….
Everyday complaining about ourselves, let’s stop it. If we are like this, so be it. We can’t always be demonizing ourselves. Let’s for once be happy with who we are
Who says to come within the territory of achievement every African must aspire to emigrate to Europe? And Bill Kalinga then has to judge people by how they assist in this chicanery.
Like When a slave is visited by relatives who judge him by the crumbs he passes on to his visitors. Ignoring the slave also depends on crumbs from the master. Judging someone’s humanity by how he assists you in becoming a beggar is loss of focus. Don’t always look for who can help you with a fish. Look for a mwalimu to teach you or teach yourself to fish.
The audacity of expectation in this?!? Why not open your own mahogany door? If others did it, why can’t you?
Dear Author, what you did not ask the Nigerian broda is HOW he came to the UK, especially that his parents are in the UK. In decades past, Nigerian and Ghanaian pregnant women used to travel to UK, USA, Ireland etc when they are just about to give birth. Until 1989, everyone born in Britain became a British citizen. In other countries it still applies. Most of these people are citizens by birth which means that they are entitled to welfare. Non-citizens are not. It may even be possible that your Zambian lady friend married a Nigerian for citizenship with love.