Until the philosophy that makes one man superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned. Then, everywhere is war. A mf’n word. Shout out to Bob Marley. The elites of the bunch would definitely need to hear this. Do the people really want war? Questions that are never answered.
It’s hard to grasp this idiotic concept of conflict that we literally shake hands and agree to. We agree to formally blast each other with fire and the people ordering such invasions are safe in their area. Safe and sound. Nevertheless, I’ve been blessed to never see such a thing since I’ve lived my whole life here in North America. The most powerful nation on Earth. However, my grandparents and parents saw coups happen in their native Ghana. My great-grandparents saw invasions by the British and the Yaa Asantewaa rebellion. Their great grandparents and beyond witnessed the never-ending callups for Asante’s expansion campaigns – coinciding with the raiding/warfare at the height of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade; one of the many incentives to go to war.
Warfare isn’t new. It is fought every day. As stated previously in my article, most wars are not fought with lethal weapons but through interpersonal culture battles and domination of ideas. This can implode to full on conflict for one’s(or a nation’s) comfort. From 1642 up to 1900, warfare was constant in many parts of modern-day Ghana. Most of it came about as the slave trade became the main economic hub for most states and gold played second-fiddle to exports in persons. Families started to be ripped apart in the name of the nation and the state. The most powerful empire, that ended up encompassing the whole nation of Ghana in 1817, was the Asante empire where most of my ancestry hails from. This hegemony was gained through a war-obsessed society; obsessed with never again being vulnerable to destruction. Ironically, they became one of the focal perpetrators of destruction in the nation through their “request” of tribute to the coast and intentional weakening of neighboring nations.
The nation participated in sending hundreds of thousands of people down to the Ghanaian coastline for Fante traders, who then were transferred to the many European forts dotted on the coastline. All in exchange for weapons, liquor, shells(currency) and cloth to continue the cycle. I see similarities with Russia’s Putin. Asante was under Denkyira for fifty years until 1701. Giving up persons for tribute to their kingdom, and subsequently selling them to the castles of Elmina. Russia/Soviet Union had the same type of chaotic beginnings. Historically easy to invade due to their wide-open landscape, they have been the victim of Nazi Germany’s villainous attacks and Napolean Bonaparte’s brutal invasions. Russia said no way. Asante said no way. And thus decided to be bullies and absorb their neighbors, bit by bit. That’s how power is. Once you taste a bit, you start to like the taste of destruction.
What about the common person? News outlets show the soldiers, families and people not giving two fucks about the war. On both sides. They just want to be safe and not feel on edge. Raise their families in peace. To enjoy the small things in life. That is what the ancestors of both Asante and Russia wanted. Peace. Many climb to power with the idea of wanting to crush the oppressors but fall victim to the politician embedded in all of us. Putin and the many leaders before him are no different. Neither are the Asantehenes (kings of Asante) of yesterday or even today.
Alienation is the next step to annihilation for a leader and I hope Putin takes heed. The rulers of my ancestors didn’t, and it led to the collapse of the Asante empire and rightfully so. It’s led to the demise of many leaders. I hope Putin listens to his ancestors and seeks their answers for a solution that will serve the people of Russia and Ukraine. Wishing the best of outcomes for the two nations.