So I received a call from my father last night.
It came completely as a surprise to me, my fiancé and of course close family
member and friend. As usual there was an underlining compulsion with his call,
I immediately noted the pattern and cross checked with past behavioral
experiences and profiling. It was concluded my Father's family was pressurizing
him to push me to attend my estranged sister's wedding, and not as I would like
to think wishfully that he genuinely gave a care but rather for the whole
family to save face among the extended members.
The thing to note is African families be it
North, South, East and West have issues that are left to fester beyond help. There’s
a collective behavioral pattern to ignore the symptom and even the illness in
the hopes that it will just go away. This is seen in many households where
problems and conflicts are advised to be swept under the rug and regardless of
the extent of conflict the members are forced and encouraged to gloss over and
proceed as a happy dynamic family to save face from the rest of society.
The needle in this tranquil state is the new millennialism
growth of individualism and one's awareness of self. More people in Africa are
becoming individualist as in the extended family is slowly diminishing with the
change in economy, culture, way of thinking and exposure to the rest of the
world. The era of the elder is always right and even when wrong never to be
corrected is fast disappearing as independence rears its stubborn head from the
new generational offspring.
I question all, I seek the truth then I make my
assumptions and solutions. I am one of many individuals who seek to reject
dangerous old ways that stunts the growth of an individual and group. I refuse
to be forced in anything not of my choosing and speak with the truth of my
observation because this is my preferred shield of choice. The old ways must
come to pass though not all are damaging but majority have gone past their expiry
date/era (It may have been a conge- able solution at its time but not in this
technological self-awareness age).
And therefor to conclude, I stand my ground even
though I go against the river.
#thelonelyafrican
#independence #amixedracejourney #thetruth #standingmyground #african
#africanhouseholds #beinganafrican #dysfunctionalfamily
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