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Journal of African trips

Africa, spring 1999 part II

Agelasto
2004-05-21 18:00:16

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continue to function. It has no steady source of
funding, and the sisters keep it open on a day-to-day basis. It seems to me that charity
that goes to the grassroots level, such as to this Center or to the Karabane project that is
the magnanimity of the French villages, makes more sense than the costly urban
infrastructure projects funded by international aid. I don?t know what portion of aid to
Africa goes to urban areas, but I imagine it is in inverse proportion to relative populations.
Why should we in the rich world continue to improve the quality of life in urban West
Africa? It seems to me that the last thing Africa needs is larger cities, breeding grounds
for crime and violence and human misery. Make the villages the places that are more
livable, with better education and health. Try to reverse the rural-to-urban flight. The
villages are not run along democratic lines, but who cares? (In Senegal?s elections an
entire village usually votes the way of the chief, and the US praises this country for its
democratic institutions!) Traditional tribal culture is not built upon our Greek origins of
democracy (real democracy which in fact ancient Greece lacked in that neither women nor
slaves could vote), so must we mold Africans to our own concocted heritage? I don?t
think foreign aid today plays a positive role in any long-run solution in Africa, but I have
to resign myself to the reality that at present we better worry about the short-run, given
the horror of today?s Africa. At least we should give our money where it might do some
good.

We have our last supper at our favorite restaurant, and we each chip in about $5 as a
cadeau for Abdou. This type of cadeau (something earned, priced by the buyer not seller)
I have no problem with. Abdou?s services would be a bargain at thrice the price.

9. A visit to an unnecessary ...