#FRONTROW: Of white saviours and our need for white validation

The picture of the ditch in Kibera was revolting. A river of sewage that has all but stagnated, choking with plastic bags, bottles, cartons and filth of every kind.

“Imagine this is where your water comes from!” American pop star Madonna exclaimed to her 7.4 million Instagram followers. It was poorism at its purest - showing off to tourists how the most destitute live.

The criticism was understandably swift and ruthless, even after she plugged a local organisation "working to change this" in her post.

“We do appreciate your charity, but it wont work when its self serving,” commented @aruasa_nick. “Africa is rising yet white people continue to degrade us.”

Maybe white people continue to degrade “us” because “we” allow ourselves to be degraded? There are many organisations that offer tours to Kibera, so all these nice white people can gawk at how the poor Africans are barely surviving.

Some are owned by Caucasian foreigners, but many are operated by Kenyans. One of them was probably responsible for taking Madonna to Kibera and showing her this river of sludge. Kenyans, and most Africans, are obsequious to a fault when dealing with a mzungu.

'DISRESPECT TO OUR COMMUNITY'

“This is such a disrespect to our community, we've never ever drunk water from whatever your are suggesting from that picture,” wrote Kenyan rapper Octopizzo, who famously grew up in Kibera. “Next time do your research before you post [such] a disrespectful quote. And try something called positivism.”

In 2,500 reactions to the picture, there were hordes of people from around the world fawning over her and declaring how much of a hero she was for showing them “reality” and using her fame for “good.”

Sample this one from @nyoike.james: “Madonna was trying to let the world know and be aware of the plight and suffering of people in those slums.” He’s right, you know, because awareness is more important and effective when it comes from famous white people.

Madonna’s white saviour episode unfolded just three days after another one involving Zambia, actress Louise Linton’s gap year in 1999 and her new memoir In Congo’s Shadow. The Telegraph in the UK published an excerpt from the book which outraged the country and Africans everywhere.

“As the night ticked interminably by, I tried not to think what the rebels would do to the 'skinny white muzungu with long angel hair’ if they found me,” she wrote.

Apparently, her village had been attacked by Congolese rebels and she had become a “central character in this horror story.” It was a hot mess and the internet called out that startling revisionism using #LintonLies.

HAPPY TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED

Instances when Africans call out rubbish like “angel hair” and other inaccurate narratives are still rare even in this digital age. For every one incident where a “woke” population pushes back on stereotypical framing, there are three where they are just happy to be acknowledged.

There may be #SomeoneTellCNN once in a while, but there’s always “Mama, I made it, I’m on CNN!” On these Kenyan streets, you have not made it until a white person thinks you’re good enough.

In the interest of full disclosure, I turn up from time to time on the BBC and other Western outlets. In my defence, I’m always even happier to go on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation or South Africa’s Power FM.

I believe in speaking to the world, but not as much as I value speaking to other Africans.

There have been countless cases of black Kenyans receiving poor treatment at trendy Nairobi restaurants and clubs while they roll out the red carpet for pale-skinned patrons. Racism stings worst if it is by your own kind. But even worse, what many Kenyans suffer from is an inferiority complex.

That, coupled with self-hate, is what leads us to crave white validation so much. That is what motivates waiters, security guards and other gatekeepers to discriminate against their own and elevate someone they consider to be better than themselves.

The need for white validation is why a poorly educated white man has higher chances of thriving in this country than a Kenyan with postgraduate qualifications. The government would rather give a tender to a Dutch or Finnish company than to a local one with the same experience.

The truth is, having white skin opens more doors in Kenya than black skin. It is patently ironic that this happens in a country of majority black people.

There are structural defects that allow even unqualified Caucasians to have Country Manager jobs, make four times as much as locals in non-profits and live a lavish life they wouldn’t afford in their home countries. Most of you bend over backwards to enter their awards, to get their visas and to get their approval.

Madonna, Linton and other white saviour crusaders all exist mostly because Africans allow them into their spaces. Silence the white noise!

South Sudan returns to war

Just three months after South Sudan was officially admitted into the East African Community, the country is back to war. Forces loyal to First Vice-President Riek Machar accused government troops of attacking their positions in the capital, Juba. Many Kenyans were desperate to get out as hundreds sought refuge at the United Nations compound.

So common has the conflict become that 150 people were killed in just one day, Friday, and it barely merited a mention in the international news cycle. It was a highlight in the top stories before the outlets went back into wall-to-wall coverage of the aftermath of the shooting death of five police officers in Dallas, Texas.

Death has become normal in the world’s newest country that people no longer even notice it. President Salva Kiir and Machar clearly have no intention of getting along. Tragically, their long-suffering people are pawns in their personal struggle.

If they won’t even attempt to re-establish a semblance of a working democracy, why are we including them in the community of nations? Realistically, South Sudan adds nothing to the East African Community but brings along lots of sorrow. They shouldn’t have been admitted. Who’s next to join? Somalia?

Issue US travel advisory like the Bahamas

The Bahamas has issued an advisory to its citizens about travelling to the United States, a first for the Caribbean nation. It has asked young men specifically to "exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police.

“Do not be confrontational and cooperate,” warned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. It is a useful warning for the country because its population is mostly black.

No African country would dare do this of course, though this is a matter of life and death. American police officers just won’t stop shooting unarmed black people.

If something similar happened in Kenya or on the continent, they would never let us forget it. In all seriousness, there have been moments when I felt genuinely afraid while walking down the street in America. As a black man, I became painfully aware that a cop might consider me a threat and shoot me dead, no questions asked. What a shame.