The YouTube channel BantuCityDiaries is run by an African black man who, rather unusually, is completely open about all the problems that sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing (including chronic poverty, systemic corruption, and so on), and is not ashamed of telling and explaining the actual situation and the actual reasons, rather than taking refuge in the European far-leftist multiculturalist propaganda and rationalizations. He doesn't soften the blows, he doesn't use rationalizations, he gives the middle finger to "political correctness", and just states the situation as it is, without shame.
He is clearly showing an attitude of "I am an African, I have lived my entire life in Africa, I have visited a lot of African countries, I see what is happening here and I'm completely tired of pretending and making excuses, and I'm completely tired of European/American leftist multiculturalist propaganda that's trying to hide and distort the issues and deflect blame. The blame is on us, on the African people, our African culture, not what the multiculturalists are claiming in their propaganda."
Watching videos from that channel got me thinking: "What would it take for Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, to turn around and become a prosperous, rich, high-living-standards, peaceful and clean place?"
The answer is that it would require a fundamental and radical change in culture, upbringing and education (the latter two being a direct consequence of the first.)
People who don't live in denial, including Africans themselves (such as the owner of that channel), see a clear difference between most African cultures and the cultures of prosperous countries like most European countries, and countries like Japan.
In those prosperous rich countries there is, generally, a culture of upbringing children to be polite and respectful towards others, to not be selfish, to respect other people's property and well-being. Upbringing of children involves a large amount of strict discipline: If the child does something wrong, the parents scold the child, teach him or her a stern lesson, and demand that the child apologizes for the wrongdoing. And that's no matter how minor the transgression, be it hitting someone or littering.
This kind of strict upbringing that teaches to respect others and to follow societal norms also inculcates into the child the instinct of so-called "delayed gratification", as opposed to "instant gratification". Which, ultimately, builds an instinct of unselfishness, respect and responsibility.
In these countries children are brought up with certain key principles:
- Respect others and your environment. Do no harm to others, respect their persons, property and living spaces.
- Responsibility: If you have a civic, societal, work or other kind of duty, you should perform that duty diligently and to the best of your abilities.
- Accountability: Take responsibility for your own actions, do not try to blame others or deflect.
- Honesty: Lying is bad. Trying to take advantage of others is bad. Causing harm to others with dishonesty is bad. Stealing is bad. Vandalism is bad. You should feel responsible not just of your own well-being but also that your actions don't harm others.
- Work hard and collaborate with others to build a better society.
- Take care of hygiene, not just your own personal hygiene but also that of your home and your environment. Do not live like a pig, do not litter, do not throw trash outside, dispose of your trash adequately and responsibly. Help build a clean and nice environment and society.
- Become educated, study hard, build a career. In general, try your hardest to become independent and successful.
Parents have a crucial role in this: They need to teach this to their children, and be strict about it. They have to make sure that their children learn these things and act accordingly. This kind of mentality has to be deeply ingrained in the very culture of the country.
This is not something that can be changed overnight, but it is necessary if Africa ever wants to get out of its chronic poverty, corruption and horrendous living standards.
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