2026-2036: The decade of glory and shame

Student Marten G. (14.10.2026): „Does it mean the African Union will reduce the financial support given to them as financial aid in years past and in future to come from the amount asked for?“

I: „I guess when from next year, the African Union, under the leadership of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, will come up with a figure and detailed argument to say how much reparation for the Transatlantic Slave Trade they want to ask for, and it will make headlines for some time even in the media of the white man. Most people in the affected countries will not take great notice of it. Intellectual experts might sit on TV shows or live-stream podcasts to talk about it. In that context, what you have just suggested will play a vital part in the discourse.“

Student Marten G.: “Will it not backfire on Africa and their leaders?“

I: “It has most certainly the potential to do so.“

Student Marten G.: „We have paid financial support not only because we whites were misusing Africa in various ways but because democratically elected African presidents did not do the right things to protect their people's interests.“

I: „The box of Pandora will be opened...I am sure.“

Student Marten G.: The European settlers slaughtered the indigenous Indians, took away their land and killed their buffalo but never paid reparations...neither for their wars in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and now Iran.“

I: „Germany paid reparations for WWI and WWII. Not many countries in world history did so.“

Student Marten G.: “This move by the AU will raise the question: who sold the slaves to the white man, white slave traders or their own black royals. And why, knowing what happened to their brothers and sisters these black royals did not intervene and stop it. Instead, they put the profit from their people's suffering into their own pockets. My understanding is that the white man, in his defence, will bring out very unpleasant facts.“

I: „History never repeats itself but comes back always in a different form.“

Student Marten G.: „You want to say...what the royals in those olden days did to their own brothers and sisters today the presidents of Africa repeatedly do to their folks?“

I: „As a lecturer in public space, I need to keep my views to myself and state history and politics neutral to the best I can for anyone to judge history and politics by his or her own mind.“

Student Marten. : “For us, the young generation...looking around...I guess the judgment is clear.“

I: „Let's leave it like that, and time will expose the truth of life.“