Friday, March 3, 2017

An African Legend's Insight into Capitalism---1935 (Excerpt of "Disciples of Fortune")




1909...
     Alongside Solomon Eichmann was Nana Njike, the perfect proof and the ideal reference in his dream of perpetual harmony for all of humanity. He encouraged his semi-adopted son to accompany him on his trips to political seminars and conferences, conventions, and campaigns. He discussed Marxist dialectics with Nana Njike and harangued his dreams of a future when the entire world would be governed by the noble ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
     However, Nana Njike was no illusionist. He was an African with a deep understanding of the minds of his people. Even though most Africans were communalists by instinct, he knew that they would never accept the idea of Marxism that had so much in common with the overwhelming rigidity of traditional rules. When he pointed out that revised Marxism otherwise called the liberal socialism of Eduard Bernstein or Social Democracy would one day dominate the world, his benefactor was puzzled. Even so, Nana Njike never told anyone that he would move along only with ideas that were compatible with the changing times.



1935...
Nana Njike shrugged. “There is no future for the Germans in their plantations out there in British Southern Cameroons. The British are already casting envious eyes on those estates. Count your luck that the League of Nations has been around because that world body is the only entity that is restraining the British from grabbing those plantations.”
     “They have been making curious maneuvers of late,” Alex said.
     “I can’t think of the British in that light, as grabbers,” Hans interjected.
     Nana Njike regarded his son for a moment with awe, disapproval, and incomprehension. “Always remember that Britain gave birth to America, the United States of America that stands as the father of capitalism today. Even with all its positive attributes, capitalism in its imperialistic form is the most treacherous system mankind ever devised. It is driven by a selfishness that has an almost religious underlining to it.”     
     “You sound almost like Opa Eichmann,” Hans chuckled.
     “We argued a lot,” Nana Njike said and sighed. “He was a good soul, but he was too trusting when it came to his faith in man’s ability to love his neighbor. There is something inherently selfish in all of us, humans, something that man cannot sweep away easily unless he shares a common interest with other people who are prepared to associate with him. Your Opa was convinced that every one of us could become a Communist. I, on the other hand, believe that people can communalize their interests only in groups where the like-minded decide to come together out of their free will. I pointed out to him that the kibbutzim were the highest and purest form of Marxist organization, but he didn't think so. Like Lenin and most Marxists, he thought the state has the answer to everything. Son, I am an African. I am Bamileké, for God’s sake. I know the limits of solidarity. Learn from the panther or the leopard, and you would understand man’s limits as a natural animal of this world.”
     “I see! It is obvious your thoughts are well formulated on the subject of the socio-economic and political organization of man,” Alex said.
     Nana Njike grunted. “Now, back to the subject of capitalism! I do not reject the economic system per se. I recognize its enormous strengths. Yes, Sons! It brings out man’s best and worst instincts. The colonial powers, with Britain at the top, are capable of committing terrible atrocities against other peoples, nations or things that are against their interests in this world. In fact, they will sell the golden bullet that can be used to kill them if they believe the profit is enormous or that the buyer is incapable of using the golden bullet against them.”



Culled by Janvier Tchouteu, the author of “FALLEN HEROES: African Leaders Whose Assassinations Disarrayed the Continent and Benefitted Foreign Interests”

https://amazon.com/dp/1980996695/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_JX6Q26H573RSKG7HT9V6

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