• However, there was no apology, with only regrets being offered, sparking uproar
• King termed the atrocities committed on Kenyans by the British as inexcusable
Image: FILE
We cannot always feel sorry for who we are, and we should stop doing so.
In fact, I feel like the apologies should now, if not must, come with something extra.
Again, Africans are in no mood to mess with the West.
British Monarch King Charles III and Queen Camilla made their very first visit to Kenya two weeks ago or so, and of course, Kenyans had mixed reactions when the King fell short of issuing an apology.
He termed the atrocities committed on Kenyans by the British as inexcusable, but there was no apology.
I believe some of us, if not all, shared the same thoughts as Sauti Sol’s Savara Mudigi.
On his socials, the artiste spoke of the King’s visit being an interesting one.
"I met King Charles. We spoke about playing instruments. My drums and bass, him the cello," Savara said.
He went on to discuss the fact that there was no apology or talk of reparations for colonial transgressions.
"I’m still conflicted about the significance of this, but it’s still a little progress. Kenya is now 60. May we live to be a thousand and more.”
Human rights groups were at the forefront of seeking an apology for victims of British injustices ahead of the visit.
But this is only part of the problem that kinda looks like it is half solved (or not, feel free to judge).
“I wish the King had more pride, pride in Britain,” Australian commentator Andrew Bolt said.
“It seems that every time King Charles visits the West Indies and Africa, he’s gotta crawl, he’s gotta grovel, he’s gotta apologise for Britain’s wicked colonial past, and pretend it was 100 per cent evil.
“It is the whole same story again on his visit to Kenya, where activists were hoping that after sorry, come reparations… free money.”
He goes on to note some of the benefits we have reaped, which include learning English from the colonial masters.
I cannot tell you how many times I have had to rewatch that Andrew Bolt video.
Some of the responses varied, with some asking how our ancestors used to communicate, and others saying the Brits left Kenya better than they found it, and if a vote was done today on being colonised again, hypothetically speaking, 80 per cent would vote for white colonisation vs a black one.
One X user went on to talk of how our President needs the King more than the King needs Kenya. Which made me wonder, do we really know how big of a deal we are?
Did we not all sit in a history class at any point in our lives?
Are we not cognisant of what our fellow African counterparts are doing to get back what is theirs?
Lest we forget, the explanation of why it would be hard for the UK to issue an apology.
I honestly think it doesn’t matter what we gained or what they continue gaining, but let’s not be too quick to justify the kind of atrocities our very own went through in the hands of colonisers.
If that apology needs to come with reparations and money, then so be it.
We are African and we are taking back our place, but we need to sort out a few things that were left unsaid. And if it needs to start with an apology, then let there be one.
And a sincere one, while it.
We are constantly facing discrimination by our very own without forgetting racism from outside.
Are we going to apologise for being black and African? No.
Are we owed? Oh yes, we are. But it also needs to start from within ourselves.
Again, you are free to feel differently and express yourself differently as well.