Stories of the ‘dark’ continent: Crude constructions, diasporic identity, and international aid to Africa

Abstract

Africa's emergence into the geography of the known world has not been without controversies and the contradictions of crudity and underdevelopment in spite of the continent's rich history as well as its natural and human resources. The crude conceptions of black Africa (as opposed to North Africa) are appositely captured in the literature and records of early Greek and Roman superpowers, European medieval explorers and Crusaders, Arab travelers and conquerors, and colonial anthropologists, archeologists, and historians. The 'stories' of Africa in modern times have remained that of despair and underdevelopment leading to emigration and the deployment of international aid. This review essay captures the reality and context of crude constructions of Africa by non-Africans and Africans; migrants' appeal to religious identity in an attempt to relive and reconstruct their 'Africanness' for the purpose of survival; and Japanese aid to Africa.

International migration narratives: Systemic global politics, irregular and return migrations

“…Second, migration experiences are not always positive and useful. Third, the storylines of celebratory narratives are always laden with Eurocentric colonial imageries (p. 7), crude constructions (Omobowale, 2015), and reversed political-economic worldviews of Africa that constantly drive and redrive migration to the Global North among locals in Africa and returnees from Africa.…”

“…These trajectories have implications for migration, the survival of migrants in host countries, returning migrants, responses and perceptions, and the attitudes and practice of migrants and their significant others in social systems locally and globally. Global international politics and the political economy of development relate to and determine local responses that jumpstart initial migrations and determine survival (Akanle, 2013; Omobowale, 2015; Stark and Bloom, 1985; Togunde and Osagie, 2009). The role of global politics of development, as well as local, kin, community, and national level drivers are important and are emphasized.…”

TICAD: The Context of Japan’s Development Aids to Africa

“…Japanese aid presents a very different context. The context of Japanese development aid is captured in the development assistance orientation that has been described as "post-Washington Consensus" (Omobowale, 2015;Lehman, 2007;Harsch, 1999). Lehman (2010a:3) further provides a concise context of Japan's aid to Africa thus: Japan's non-Western identity as a major global donor and its constitutionally mandated pacifism demarcate its strategy from that of other international aid donors.…”

“…Ultimately, Japan's emphasis on cultural context, self-help and local ownership is aimed at ensuring poverty reduction through local production for economic growth (Omobowale, 2015;Hughes, 2009). Poverty reduction through trade liberalization championed by the Washington Consensus has failed in sub-Saharan Africa and most other developing regions.…”

“…A reactive state is one which even though has clear cut policies, its eventual decisions are subject to Gaiatsu (that is, influences from and by other powerful nations (see also Miyashita, 1999). In the case of Japan, the United States of America assumes the position of an influencing partner (Omobowale, 2015;Sato, 2010). The United States was instrumental to Japan's decision to provide aid to Africa as from the middle 1980s.…”