Let's fully reclaim our African identity, overcome imperialism

Not many Kenyans know I was once upon a time named Robert. That’s until I killed him. It’s been several decades since I murdered in cold blood – and without a tinge of remorse – the fellow once known as Robert Mutua. I am making this public confession now because I am tired of keeping it secret in my bosom. I want to free myself of my Catholic guilt. I want to tell my truth – and inspire others to unburden themselves. This is the final act in which I finally and fully reclaim my African identity. It’s closure – and triumph over the demons of imperialism. I want to echo Thabo Mbeki’s 1996 iconic speech – I am an African.

I know – in fact I am sure – not everyone will agree with me. But I don’t care. That’s because too many Africans don’t know who they are, and don’t want to. Too many of our people think history started in 1896 when the British declared a protectorate over what they called Kenya. They made it up following the Berlin Conference of 1885 where Africa was divvied up among European colonialists. Europeans regarded our lands as terra nullius (no man’s land), or lands occupied by sub-humans without the sovereignty of reason. That’s why they believed in their manifest destiny colonise us, convert us to Christianity, to make us “fully human.” This is what thinkers call the White Man’s Burden.