BBC NEWS | Africa | Kenyan party to defy protest ban

In light of Kenya....Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Togo, South Africa, Rwanda...etc etc..

Is it time to admit that Democracy [european style] does not work in Africa? The above is a cursory flip through the BBC website and these are all the countries I found in 5min search where there has been allegations of voting eregularites and political unrest...the latest being Kenya in the spotlight...

So the question is simple does or can democracy ever WORK in Africa and if not why not?

I am not entitled to speak on this I know.........but it was with a strange emotion I watched the news about Kenya today.

Im a YT as some of you might know.......I spend some of my life defending....or at least explaining the paradox or maybe conundrum that is Africa.

News like today's frustrates and embarrasses.......and Im not THAT involved.......other than being an interested outsider, onlooker.

There is an ideology, belief, cultural difference.......I am at a loss to know what to call it......In africa......that overrides everything.........when "obligation" comes into the equation.
"Obligation" is very complicated.......first it is to family.....then extended family.....then clan.....then anybody that has ever come into contact with you, and who might owe or be owed something. Holding all this together is Tribal allegiance.

I thought I had cracked why this system had come into being.......it works in time of hardship......uniting family.....friends.....communities....."Obligating " people to look after each other.
But along with the obligation to those that are "owed" or due "consideration" or "respect"......there are those that come outside that and are never to be considered for anything.......other Tiribes.
This old fashioned system of patronage is what is wrong.


I am only giving my own outsiders view.....please feel free to slag off my opinion and me in person.....................but consider my words first.

Democracy has nothing to do with it..its tribalism..

Until Africans see themselves as one people theyll continue to chop each other up for silly sh!t.

Sorry Impactplayer that is a very narrow and simplistic analysis of the situation....The fact is Africa has NEVER been one people, rather they are a collection of cultures...much like european is a collection of different cultures and they would equally resent and refused to be lumped into one group...

Also @All Forum: If i wanted to be tricksy I could have said does DEMOCRACY work full stop...given the low turn in the UK where i believe Labour was voted in with less than 36% of the popular vote, It is also accepted that Bush 1st term and I suspect 2nd term got in on less than fair & free elections....

The Problems in Pakistan is also down to the fact that they cannot make democracy work in that country either....and in my view it will be interesting if Masharraf actually steps down if/when he is voted out, or if it is a 'fair' vote i suspect not....

So to bring it back to Africa...I am beginning to wonder whether the industrial ideal of democracy can ever work in Africa, especially in conditions whereby there are extremes in wealth and poverty... I think again it will interesting to observe what happens in South Africa when Zuma assumes office, if he is allowed to get that far that is...because i suspect a situation maybe contrived to divert him first...

For me it is to simple to state that Democracy does not work because of tribalism, as if there is the only FACTOR in the mix... It seems to me that the European model of choosing governance does not appear to be fit for purpose, and if my suspicions is the case I am wondering what would work in Africa...because I just think this model will ever work its track record is poor, and has become discredited as a charter for dictators to take the piss..

Look at the history of 'democracy' in the Western world...It was hardly a peaceful process historically. And in contemporary society as major failings.

@Geoff

A very interesting analysis and ironic that a whiteman is not screaming "tribalism" as the source of the problem....Impressive. I have read about 'obligation' and its impact on African democracy before, just can't recall authors.

Geoff: you're entitled to a view here, I know some people may feel affronted by your presence..[historically i understand why] but at the end of the day everyone should remember that this is our home we control it.. So therefore we should know that we are strong enough and centered enough to deal with an opposing WHITE view [that respects our home that is].. and answer it in a way that demostrates the BEST of the Africa and Africans...


Ps: this is a personal view and NOT BNV policy just be very clear!!

Interesting view... It would be interesting to discuss what model could offer Africans 'fair and free' mechanism for choosing Governance..Can putting a piece of paper in a Ballot box [ie one man one vote] ever work? It hasn't so far...

I think Geoff skirted around it but I'll be clearer. Nationalism is the problem. Very few leaders that came into power did enough to encourage nationalism and a sense of nationhood. Not that I'd go as far as the yanks making children bawl and cry for a flag and pledge alliegence every day but I think given theirs and Mao's Chinese example, that building a strong sense of national identity and pride should be foremost on any African leaders list of things to do and that does start young. Sure we all know colonialism was the fault in the past but damn that was so yesterday. There have been generations since then who haven't taken the initiative in fixing those problems. If the differences are that insurmountable (meaning if people really want to be big babies forever and ever) then certain nations should go the way of cechzslovakia and yugoslavia and simply split up.

Watcher: its interesting you say that because there has been serious talk over the years that Nigeria might go the way of the Balkans and split up..... However do you really think NATIONALISM would work..I've been to Kenya and my impression was that they are very nationalistic..if a little confused!!