Well, it has been hard
in Kenya to get a job given that employment opportunities are few while
hundreds of youth graduate from our colleges and universities annually. This has
made the financially hungry and unemployed youth to seek for other ways to earn
a living.
Apparently, a new way
to get cash is finding sponsors. Whereby
youth find older men and women who are financially stable to sponsor their lavish
life; that is you provide money, and in return, they offer sexual favors. Personally,
I have no issue with this morally wrong trend because it all goes down to an
individual doings, and they have the right to choose whatever they want.
Anyway, Kenya’s own Kim
Kardashian Vera Sidika has come outta the shadows to announce that her lavish
lifestyle has been sponsored by one hell
of an old American man - Hugh Marston Hefner [aged 90years] a famous playboy,
business man and adult magazine publisher.
Below is her IG posted
revealing that Hugh Marston Hefner is her sponsor…
Thomas Isidore Sankara, the former president of Burkina Faso.
Where did all the
genuine African revolutionaries go? They were either assassinated; Patrice
Lumumba, Eduardo Mondlane, Samora Machel, Amilcar Cabral, Steve Biko, John
Garang, Muammar Gadaffi or under siege from their own legacies. I am thinking
of Nelson Mandela here. It has been decades since we saw a visionary leader
that inspired the Pan African idealism of the revolutionary 60s. Look around.
Africa is facing a leadership crisis. From South Africa to Egypt, Kenya to
Senegal, there is a clear sense of ‘we deserve better’.
As African men,
stifling under the stereotype of rogue males in power, there are not many
examples around to deliver a much needed inspirational wake up call. The only
standard for leadership presently is wealth and influence. Simple men with
solid characters, sincere intentions and grand visions are consigned to the
pages of African history.
Therefore, it is with
deep nostalgia that I remember an iconic African revolutionary, a pragmatic
visionary and an upright man, Thomas Isidore Sankara, the former president of
Burkina Faso. We marked the 25th anniversary, since his brutal assassination on
October 15 1987. As far as African leadership goes, Thomas Sankara was cut from
a different piece of cloth. In his short life, the charismatic military leader
set about creating an enduring legacy for conscious African citizens that is
more relevant today than ever before. Progressive forces fighting economic
domination and ideological slavery of Africa can draw inspiration from
Sankara’s life journey.
Sankara came to power
on August 4th 1983 through a popular revolution at the age of 33. In the four
years that ensured, he embarked on a revolutionary paradigm shift, bringing
real power down to the people, advocating for policies on African
self-reliance, food security, gender parity and the dismantling of the
neo-colonial development structure that continues to render African states
beholden to foreign masters for survival. His solidarity and sincere commitment
to the plight of all suffering people, irrespective of their location in the
world is why Sankara is fondly referred to as Africa’s “Che Gueverra”. The
Burkinabe revolution remains a relevant ideological model in Africa for raising
mass consciousness and battling poverty.
I have attached a series of links at the end of this article for those
interested in delving further into Thomas Sankara’s political legacy. That
said, there is plenty that Sankara has to offer for men who are interested in
improving the self. I managed to compile ten lessons from Sankara’s life
that would be relevant to those seeking the simple pursuit of a balanced life
of an upright man.
1. Acknowledge your
roots and find yourself.
When Sankara came to
power he changed the country’s name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, “The land
of Upright Men”. He stressed Burkinabe culture and pride. During a famous OAU
assembly address, he made a powerful statement on African self reliance by
proudly showing off his traditional tunic, woven from Burkinabe cotton and sewn
by Burkinabe craftsmen.
Until one’s acknowledges their roots, they can be no true understanding of who
they are. Identity is a nagging issue for many African men. Who am I? Where do
I belong? Many of us are disconnected from the ethnic origins and cultures of
our parents and view the ethnic pride as retrogressive. We oscillate between
the notion of modern liberal men touting grafted western principles and the old
cherished ideals of African manhood as organized by our patriarchal structures.
So class identity is often used to fill the gap of tribal disconnect and
patriotism is reduced to a slogan. Only by looking deeply into our past can we
evolve new insight to help define ourselves.
2. Life is fleeting,
stop procrastinating
Sankara was one of
Africa’s youngest leaders at only 33 years old when he seized power in a
popular coup. In four years his contribution to African consciousness was
enormous. Sankara was assassinated at the age of 38 but by then he had lived
like a man on borrowed time and the impact of his life still reverberates
through out the world today.
We keep on waiting for outside forces to intervene in our personal
circumstances yet the solutions to a large part our problems are within
ourselves. We require tenacity to face failure and fear many times because
success is all about getting up one more time than you fall. For, if we do not
take these calculated risks, our lives will be very small.
3. Frugality is not
poverty. Live within your means.
Too many men try to
keep pace with peer expectations. Manhood is defined by the value of our
possessions and frugal living is associated with poverty. Our consumer culture
has sanitized greed by creating a heightened sense of lack. This thinking
motivates unchecked consumption for the better part of our lives as willing
prisoners of addiction or envy never knowing the peace of mind that contentment
offers. Sankara was different. He did not amass wealth or create a cult of
personality around him. His life was marked by frugality. At the time of his
death he was earning a salary of $450 (approx kshs 38, 250) a month; he did not
own much in terms of personal possessions. The most prized item was a car and 4
motorbikes. By Kenyan Mpigs standards, he was dirt broke but at the end of his
life he continues to be remembered as a man of substance whose time on earth
left millions enriched.
4. Perseverance
requires courage
It is easy to shout in
a crowd. But to hold a different opinion that goes against the sanctioned grain
takes courage. To stay true to your conviction until your vision comes to
fruition requires perseverance. Sankara’s achievements on the battle front and
his personal charisma earned him the popular support required to become president
of Burkina Faso. But he was soon to realize that not everyone wanted change.
The intellectual petty bourgeoisie had interests to protect and they hit back
but Sankara’s commitment to change rooted in solid personal values were
unshakeable. In the end he paid for his values with his life but his ideas
lived on. In the same regard, in our different engagements of livelihood, it
sometimes seems like no progress is made. Work becomes mechanical, distractions
are frequent and our goals look unattainable. That is the time to cultivate
patience and remember perseverance as we work diligently towards our goals. The
old African hunter said, “Don’t lose sight of the antelope when a squirrel
darts across your path”.
5. When the trees go,
man will follow soon after
Burkina Faso continues
to be under threat from the advancing Sahara desert. During his tenure, Sankara
introduced a reforestation initiative that saw 10 million trees planted. His
legacy survived and tree planting is now a Burkinabe custom in times of celebrations
to commemorate birthdays, weddings and graduations.
Our natural environment is getting systematically destroyed to make room for
the aspirations of modern life. As individuals we have to be a little more
conscious of how our lives are entwined with the natural world and the
consequences that will be visited upon the lives of our children in the near
future as a direct result of our present day mindless mass destruction of
trees.
6. Behind every
successful woman, is a bitching man
Sankara understood
women’s place in Africa’s empowerment long before gender activism came into
vogue. He was not reactionary, and he understood that the disempowerment of
women was linked to male economic dominance by other men who lashed out to
compensate for their inadequacies. He started a campaign to restore the dignity
of women and return them to their rightful place in society. He studied the
roots of patriarchal dominance, tracing it to the advent of private property
where women were consigned to a man’s possessions. During Sankara’s reign,
several women where appointed to government positions and his most powerful
gesture was the day of solidarity with women. On that day, roles were reversed
and men walked a day in women’s shoes, going to the market and taking care of
household chores.
Too often men blame their state of emasculation on the advancement of women.
Male disempowerment in Africa can be traced back to the slave trade and
colonialism. The effects of centuries of degradation are real. The
disempowerment plays out as violence towards women and children, delinquent
habits and recklessness. But with awareness, change is possible. African men
must be more proactive in creating safer communities for women and children. It
starts with self examination to determine the triggers behind our insecurities
and why we overreact when our position is threatened as the first step towards
healing and self empowerment.
7. To lead is to serve.
Sankara’s was a perfect
example of servant leadership. The symbols of opulence all but disappeared under
his watch. His down-to-earth attitude was baffling. He got rid of the
presidential fleet of Mercedes and opted for the boxy fuel efficient Renault 5.
He refused to use the air conditioning in his office because he did not feel he
earned the privilege. These small gestures were necessary for fiscal
discipline. Burkina Faso was one of Africa’s poorest nations and he understood
the injustice of the one percent living off the fat of the land while the great
masses wallowed in poverty. Sankara’s brand of leadership was about elevating
the collective through organizing and example which he used as a reflection of
his individual worth.
I read somewhere that leadership is the ability to motivate and inspire others
to take positive and sustainable action. This principle is not pegged to the
number of followers. It can just as easily apply to a household or a
relationship. The underlying objective is not merely to lead but how well we
lead that counts. At the most basic level, a true leader must live by example.
All talk and no action won’t cut it.
8. Don’t believe the
hype.
Thomas Sankara decreed
that his portrait should not be displayed all over the country in official
buildings as is the norm in Africa. He saw no need to develop a cult of
personality around him. Despite his high station he identified with commoners.
He was secure enough in his position to be humble.
Success can be overwhelming. It takes a steady hand to ride the waves without
sinking into the depths of self delusion. No matter how great the accomplishment,
one must not get too attached to the noise it generates. Sooner or later, the
hype will pass and it is important to remember the man you were before success
came knocking.
Sankara’s style was
rugged. He preferred tailored military fatigues drawing inspiration from Fidel
Castro and like Che’ he wore a beret. He loved motorcycles and dressed
appropriately for the bike. He promoted Burkinabe traditional as an expression
of belonging. (Reference the attempt to find a Kenyan national dress)
Style essentially is about knowing who you are and how to express your
individuality. It is also about comfort in your own skin. Fashion fades. Do not
be a slave to trends or you will end with suitcases of clothes you detest.
10. Fitness is for
life.
Sankara’s commitment to
personal fitness was total. He was regularly seen jogging unaccompanied in the
streets of Ouagadougou so it’s no surprise that he was never overweight. He
initiated fitness programs around the country and always seemed energized.
These days as soon as man makes a little money, it is reflected on his
waistline. The more prosperous one gets, the bigger the bellies grow. By the
time fortune descends, he will have arrived at full term pregnancy. Physical
fitness is not a priority and all about vanity with the advent of surgical
short cuts. But an unhealthy lifestyle is expensive because medical cover is
not getting cheaper. Most of ailments plaguing society are attributed to
careless lifestyle choices and are preventable. The human body was not designed
to be sedentary, so get off your butt and make exercise a regular activity.
Inspiring Thomas Sankara quotes;
“I want people to remember me as
someone whose life has been helpful to humanity.”
“While revolutionaries as individuals
can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas”.
“Women’s fate is bound up with that
of an exploited male. However, this solidarity must not blind us in
looking at the specific situation faced by womenfolk in our society. It is
true that the woman worker and simple man are exploited economically, but
the worker wife is also condemned further to silence by her worker
husband. This is the same method used by men to dominate other men! The
idea was crafted that certain men, by virtue of their family origin and
birth, or by ‘divine rights’, were superior to others”.
