He chose tranquility (and not hope)

The belief in Eden-like Paradise is a virtue in Africa. More than that, it is part of the African soul. Among most Africans in time past it is known as the land of the ancestors, with the coming of foreign Christianity and Islam it has become heaven or aljan. They all point to a time and place when all forms of pains will be no more and bliss will be the norm.

This my African brother believes the promise of tranquility. But unlike many who will live in hope and wait for heaven to come in stages - starting from banishing domestic hunger - he wants it all on this day. Lucky for him, some hard substances can take him some way in that search. And he took it all. I believe he left home before dawn and had enough dosage to allow him walk up the river side to the road. Unfortunately, he miscalculated the doses. The blessing of tranquility came on him in the middle of the busy road. With at least 100 cars passing him left and right and a busy market ahead, he felt like a king with spectators cheering him. He stood in the middle of the road in a trance-like position as a symbol of a man who exchanges hope for tranquility. It takes courage to make such a transaction. But my African brother has a lot of such courage.

He shares in my Africanness and possesses the same African soul I wear with pride everyday. Call him irresponsible, he symbolizes a brother with courage to me. He determines the future of us all with his voting right. On election day, he will leave home to vote out corrupt politicians. But on reaching the polling unit he will remember he needs some more currencies to buy the key to tranquility and whoever will give more money will have his vote. Thanks to him, corrupt politicians will always remain in power. He only cry bad governance when he has no assess to his tranquilizers. Governing him is far more easier for the African politician. So why will they fight against his tranquilizers? Give him some more and you'll have peace in the streets.

Hard and dehumanizing labors are welcome so long as they provide for tranquility.Such labors are opportunities to prove his prowess and to show what a fine man he has become. In old times, ladies are impressed more by physical strength and agility than in intellectual capabilities. For strength guarantees that one will be successful at farming and industry. A strong man commands an army of laborers unlike in our days when a weak-looking Bill Gate is the man to watch.

For the rest of us who chose hope instead of tranquility, we can live with our delusions. "No pain, no gain" philosophy should not forget that the pain never stops. The gain is enjoyed in pains. We will be deluded to think the pain stops with sunset. Wars are fought even in heaven and the dead sleep with the consciousness of all the injustices they suffered. Hope is hope and it will give birth to more hopes. Our African brother has no patience for such hope and he had it all. Why keep hoping when the substance can be obtained? Each new day is an opportunity for tranquility.

He chose tranquility (and not hope)

The belief in Eden-like Paradise is a virtue in Africa. More than that, it is part of the African soul. Among most Africans in time past it is known as the land of the ancestors, with the coming of foreign Christianity and Islam it has become heaven or aljan. They all point to a time and place when all forms of pains will be no more and bliss will be the norm.

This my African brother believes the promise of tranquility. But unlike many who will live in hope and wait for heaven to come in stages - starting from banishing domestic hunger - he wants it all on this day. Lucky for him, some hard substances can take him some way in that search. And he took it all. I believe he left home before dawn and had enough dosage to allow him walk up the river side to the road. Unfortunately, he miscalculated the doses. The blessing of tranquility came on him in the middle of the busy road. With at least 100 cars passing him left and right and a busy market ahead, he felt like a king with spectators cheering him. He stood in the middle of the road in a trance-like position as a symbol of a man who exchanges hope for tranquility. It takes courage to make such a transaction. But my African brother has a lot of such courage.

He shares in my Africanness and possesses the same African soul I wear with pride everyday. Call him irresponsible, he symbolizes a brother with courage to me. He determines the future of us all with his voting right. On election day, he will leave home to vote out corrupt politicians. But on reaching the polling unit he will remember he needs some more currencies to buy the key to tranquility and whoever will give more money will have his vote. Thanks to him, corrupt politicians will always remain in power. He only cry bad governance when he has no assess to his tranquilizers. Governing him is far more easier for the African politician. So why will they fight against his tranquilizers? Give him some more and you'll have peace in the streets.

Hard and dehumanizing labors are welcome so long as they provide for tranquility.Such labors are opportunities to prove his prowess and to show what a fine man he has become. In old times, ladies are impressed more by physical strength and agility than in intellectual capabilities. For strength guarantees that one will be successful at farming and industry. A strong man commands an army of laborers unlike in our days when a weak-looking Bill Gate is the man to watch.

For the rest of us who chose hope instead of tranquility, we can live with our delusions. "No pain, no gain" philosophy should not forget that the pain never stops. The gain is enjoyed in pains. We will be deluded to think the pain stops with sunset. Wars are fought even in heaven and the dead sleep with the consciousness of all the injustices they suffered. Hope is hope and it will give birth to more hopes. Our African brother has no patience for such hope and he had it all. Why keep hoping when the substance can be obtained? Each new day is an opportunity for tranquility.