There an Africa shaped hole in all of us.

This semester I took a class called Doing Development that impacted me in ways I am still discovering.  It has given me a new insight and perspective on international development (both past and present).  It has fostered a greater world understanding within me, and has caused me to deeply reflect and ponder many new concepts.  One night in class we were handed an article entitled Healing the Africa in Us by Ben Okri.  This article stopped me in my tracks.  The way Okri writes simply makes so much sense! It caused me to question my views, values and ideas of Africa (a good thing before heading over to Ghana for 3 1/2 months).  However, the article did not just cause me to question, it also increased my excitement for my placement this summer.  Now more then ever I believe that going to Africa is a vital step in creating a different world.  

"There is a realm inside every human being that is Africa.  We all have an Africa within us.  And so, when the Africa outside is sick with troubles, the Africa inside us makes us ill with neuroses."  Part of the reason there are so many issues plaguing the world today is because of the problems facing Africa.  "We have to heal the Africa outside us if the human race is going to be at peace again in a new dynamic way."  The world today is facing many crises.  We live in a troubled time, and one reason for this is the immense amount of suffering and the multitude of troubles facing Africa at the moment.  These troubles are directly related to the suffering of the world.  Problems facing Africa effect everyones lives.  They can effect health, sleep, anxiety, and unknown suffering; it is very possible to suffer without recognizing it.  

"We have to heal the Africa within each of us. We have to rediscover the true Africa." Africa is an absolutely wonderful continent.  We need to trade in our prepositions about Africa, which are for the most part misconceptions.  Misconceptions that have been bequeathed to future generations.  Africa was not seen for its beautiful, kind and caring nature.  For the most part Africa was seen from a view point of greed.  It was viewed with the question "What can I get out of it"

"The world should now begin to see the light, to see its brightness, its brilliance, its beauty."  Africa has been waiting for centuries for people to come and discover what it truly is.  However, there can be no true understanding without love.  "We have to learn to love the Africa within us."  "There is no true seeing seeing without love.  We have to learn to love the Africa in us if humanity is going to begin to to know true happiness on this earth."   We need to discover the Africa that is within each one of us.  It is sunshine, and vibrance.  It is spiritual.  Africa is not the dark and forbearing place that most people in the West make it out to be.  Africa fosters a culture of hope, perseverance, loyalty and love.  

Until we find and heal the Africa inside us there is little if any hope for creating a world of total understanding and peace.  "We love the America in us.  We love the Europe in us. The Asia in us we are beginning to respect.  Only the Africa in us is left unloved, unseen, unappreciated.  The first step toward the regeneration of humanity is making whole again all these great continents within us.  We are the sum total of humanity.  Every individual is all of humanity.  It is Africa's turn to smile... then humanity can begin to think of the universe."