Thoughts for the week

Even if the Igbo were not subjected to the cataclysmic genocide of 29 May 1966-12 January 1970, the foundational genocide of post-(European)conquest Africa in which Nigeria and its allies, centrally Britain, murdered 3.1 million Igbo or one-quarter of this nation’s population, they, just like any other peoples, have a right to declare themselves free from Nigeria or indeed any other states in Africa they find themselves domiciled if they so wish. Besides, the compositional aftermath of the (European) conqueror’s/conquered/conquest-state of Africa (Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, the Sudan, the Congo-B, the Congo-K, Guinea-B, Guinea-C, Guinea-E, whatever!) cannot be the basis of the restoration-of-independence for the peoples as this historic right to freedom affirmation rests incontrovertibly on the hitherto conquered constituent African nation or people (Igbo, Bakongo, Wolof, Luo, Ibibio, Darfuri, Gĩkũyũ, Herero, Efik, Akan, Bakongo, Gur, Ijo, Punu, Ovambo, Bamileke...). This right to freedom for a people, for all peoples, is inalienable. It is the state, any state, that is transient; definitely, not the people(s). No one, no people, therefore, has to offer a reason for being free, for freedom.

(Jackie McLean Quartet, “Melody for Melonae”, from Let Freedom Ring [personnel: McLean, alto saxophone; Walter Davis, piano; Herbie Lewis, bass; Billy Higgins, drums; recorded: Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, US, 19 March 1962])

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