I was a bit hesitant to write about #TIA as it’s a
term I heard while traveling throughout Northern, Eastern, & Western Africa
that didn't sit well with me. Having been born & raised in Ethiopia, coming
from a family where we can trace our genealogy as far back as the queen of
Sheba; going to an international school of more than 69 nationalities; having
been educated & succeeded in one of the most developed country in the world
(US); constantly being reminded of Ethiopia’s rich history dating as far back
as the time of the pharaohs, the first Christian nation in the world, the only
country in the world that has never been colonized and a country that has been
mentioned over 30 times in the bible, as well as being named as the one country
in the Quran that no Muslim can wage war on; furthermore surrounding myself
with responsible leaders from both genders since as far back as I can remember,
I felt the preconceived negative notion summed up as #TIA challenged me to the
core. Thus as a global citizen travelling around Africa, I felt an inner shock
& disbelief of the acceptance of the term TIA to justify and perpetuate the
misconception of this complex, yet graceful continent that is coming into its
own in the 21
st century.
Was it my inability to accept the realities of what
I saw in Africa, both by Africans & non-Africans? Like the white backpacker
falsely accusing a native from Botswana & having him beaten & fired
over $5 at a Bavarian looking town in Namibia; being accused of not being black
by a group of Australians traveling with the tour group because I was more
educated, spoke English, had a global view & didn't go to bars after hours;
or maybe hearing an Africana explain to a few of us traveling to Cape town that
visiting Robin island was a waste of money as false information was being
spread; or could I possibly resist the urge to argue when a 24 year old
Australian guide that was newly hired, look down upon & disrespect a 50+
Kenyan cook that had worked for over 10 years & the Kenyan justifying her
behavior by saying don't you know Sofi, TIA; Or noticing the lack of
affirmation, will, drive, and inner fight of the average African to feel
entitled to stand-up for what they believe in without being defensive, argumentative,
and having an inner stance. Was I not seeing the same Africa?
Maybe I should explain, you see I was born &
raised in Ethiopia, hearing so many stories that have shaped the person I have
become. Stories such as my grandmother leaving her husband to take arms with
her own army to join her father & the underground gorilla movement (the
second time the Italians tried to colonies Ethiopia), living from cave to cave
fighting for the freedom of Ethiopia with an extended family, and emerged after 5years victorious. I live next to my uncle who is almost 90+, takes no
medication & has perfect skin, who not only served the imperial guard, was
born in Eastern Ethiopia where his father was mayor of that region & fought
to keep the borders of Ethiopia from invasion by demarcating the border by
planting an endemic grain, Teff, as they marched along barefoot, taking their
whole family, camping from one area to another, and hunting for food. My uncle
at 90+ years old walks 3hrs a day, does urban gardening, can recite the bible
verbally, & his mind is so sharp, he still tells me detailed stories
relating to family, the four governments he has witnessed, and his fascinating
life stories.
How then can I accept TIA? By the time I travelled
eight countries in Africa other than Ethiopia, I was overwhelmed by my
inability to comprehend Africa’s image of me, which was quiet different &
challenging then what I saw in the mirror & felt inside. How can I possibly
communicate the dynamic personality of my father who guided me to be the woman
I have become, equipping me with the tools to be a well rounded spiritual
being, with a curios, adventures & respectful nature, he passed on the
generational wisdom so treat everyone & every living thing as I would want
to be treated. How does one forget the assertive, confident, religious, wise,
kind aunts that raised me, and never challenged my choices, but guided my
choices? How can I not be influenced by the vibrant, dynamic, growing economy
that is rooting itself by the hard work of Ethiopians & her allies as I
write this blog?
How does one forget the topography, the rich
diversity, economical vibrant, susceptible, mysterious, historically &
culturally a country that is the cradle of mankind? How can I keep still when
the bloodline of merchants, spiritual gurus, warriors, philosophers, travelers,
pilgrims, policy makers, and rulers runs in my blood? How does one not see
Africa for its beauty in Diversity, for its complex existence, for its role in
giving birth to humanity, enriching our mornings with coffee, warming our
hearts to its musical rhythms, supplying the world with cheap raw materials at
its cost, adding color to the population of the world, giving society a heart
as pure & human?
This
too is my Africa, my kind yet assertive nature; my patience; my strong will
& drive; my in-depth ability to love & forgive; my trust in humanity;
and my intuitive nature. I urge you to reimage your own view as an African, and
share with others what you see in the mirror, and do it with an inclusive
energy that embodies the change you seek.
By Dutchess @Deldeyoch
"Bridging the gap between the monetary fortunate and unfortunate."
Note: Written for DSTV Campaign #TIA
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