Dear President Barack Obama,
Congratulations on making the long-awaited trip to Africa. It has been quite a while since the 21-hour visit to Ghana.
I am told that by the time you return to Washington, you will have accumulated 200 hours in sub-Saharan Africa. Thank you, Mr President for this extended stay in the continent.
Africans have been wondering what happened to their son. Pardon those who have even been talking of you as the prodigal son.
They have seen the Chinese leaders on their continent so frequently now, that they know more about Beijing than Washington.
But now, you have made them proud. By the end of your trip, you will have visited four sub-Saharan African countries since you came to power.
You cannot imagine the nerve of these Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping. Just over the last five years, the two have visited more than 30 African countries.
Who do they think they are? Dont they know that this is your territory? What do they see in Africa that you have not seen?
And then there is all this construction going on all over the continent from superhighways, railways to dams all by the Chinese.
I have been wondering what happened to American construction companies. Is it true that American firms do not do these things anymore?
But, Mr President, we have a rather serious problem. You see, our colonial masters taught us very good English and French.
But now we have to contend with the Chinese. The world would be a better place if Africans were in a position to negotiate with the Chinese in their own language.
I have this bad feeling that we may be getting short-changed as Americans would say, screwed in our natural resource contracts because we do not understand the language.
I say that one aid programme that America should support Africans with is learning the Chinese language.
This is what Africa needs. Forget the many other programmes. All we need is to be proficient in Chinese and we shall not only negotiate better, but we will be able to sell our jua kali products to millions in remote villages in China.
This is my plea to you Mr President; some aid to learn the Chinese language.
Oh, and before I forget, just another small matter. I am told that the trip will skip Kenya, the country of your father.
Congratulations on making the long-awaited trip to Africa. It has been quite a while since the 21-hour visit to Ghana.
I am told that by the time you return to Washington, you will have accumulated 200 hours in sub-Saharan Africa. Thank you, Mr President for this extended stay in the continent.
Africans have been wondering what happened to their son. Pardon those who have even been talking of you as the prodigal son.
They have seen the Chinese leaders on their continent so frequently now, that they know more about Beijing than Washington.
But now, you have made them proud. By the end of your trip, you will have visited four sub-Saharan African countries since you came to power.
You cannot imagine the nerve of these Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping. Just over the last five years, the two have visited more than 30 African countries.
Who do they think they are? Dont they know that this is your territory? What do they see in Africa that you have not seen?
And then there is all this construction going on all over the continent from superhighways, railways to dams all by the Chinese.
I have been wondering what happened to American construction companies. Is it true that American firms do not do these things anymore?
But, Mr President, we have a rather serious problem. You see, our colonial masters taught us very good English and French.
But now we have to contend with the Chinese. The world would be a better place if Africans were in a position to negotiate with the Chinese in their own language.
I have this bad feeling that we may be getting short-changed as Americans would say, screwed in our natural resource contracts because we do not understand the language.
I say that one aid programme that America should support Africans with is learning the Chinese language.
This is what Africa needs. Forget the many other programmes. All we need is to be proficient in Chinese and we shall not only negotiate better, but we will be able to sell our jua kali products to millions in remote villages in China.
This is my plea to you Mr President; some aid to learn the Chinese language.
Oh, and before I forget, just another small matter. I am told that the trip will skip Kenya, the country of your father.
