End black imperialism, bring back the white men in blue suits

The only arguable exception is Ocampo.

But even then he is, politically speaking, black because he is from a developing country, Argentina.

If this had been just 20 years ago, all these people would have been white.

African chiefs used to go globally native, when it was white men and women wagging fingers at them.

They would cry racism, imperialism, and neo-colonialism.

It often worked, because they would get a break, and solidarity from nationalist constituencies at home.

Today, when rich and successful black men like Bolt and Akon are the face of the “rest of the world,” all of a sudden the excuses disappear.

We cannot say we are wretched because we are black. You can’t accuse Annan of patronising racism, or Ocampo of neo-colonialism.

I don’t think African radicals and politicians very much like this world, because it has cornered them by taking away all their excuses.

If they had their way, they would recreate the old world ruled by white men with silvery hair, in white starched shirts and navy blue suits.

Charles Onyango-Obbo is executive editor of the Nation Media Group’s Africa Media Division. E-mail: cobbo@nation.co.ke