Bwesigye bwa Mwesigire comments on Binyavanga Wainaina's poverty of imagination videos:
What is development?Binyavanga's thesis on the African middle-class is very interesting for two reasons. The debate on African development has in many ways accepted some of the assumptions of Africa that Binyavanga highlights. In various debates, one hears 'educated' Africans talk about the developed world, and how close Africa is coming to becoming similar to the developed world. To use Binyavanga's words, how good Africa is doing as the copy-cat. There is no imagination on the part of many of us when we think of development. Development is becoming synonymous with the 'developed' world. We are not imagining another reality. Development is linear.
image courtesy of This is Africa
There is a failure to understand development outside the 'let us become Europe' model. All eyes are set on recreating a Europe in Africa, that the visions several middle class Africans hold for their continent dwindles any originality and imagination on their part. Thus, an indigenous contribution to urbanisation in Africa, like boda-bodas, which work perfectly for the users is under threat. Do not think. Do not imagine. Do not create. Do not innovate. This is the mindset Binyavanga Wainaina is talking about in the six-part series.More here