African leaders and their obsession with the red carpet

At any hour in Africa, there is always an African leader standing on a political podium to blast colonialists while hanging onto the very things that the colonialist discarded 100 years ago.

When an African leader is departing from his country, he must be seen off at the airport by his vice president, police chief, army boss and a retinue of sycophantic politicians who do everything to ensure they get photographed giving an ear to the big man.

When the leader returns, he must be met by the same fawning fellows and of course a posse of traditional dancers, mostly half-dressed women wriggling their bottoms.

Meanwhile, the most powerful man in the world walks to a chopper on the lawns of the White House and flies off. Most of the time, the only one who sees him off is a dog. It is like the army chief of staff has more important things to do than bid his president bye.

And if you have noted, the same Obama never has an askari standing behind him. But an African leader must have an aide de camp. When the big man stands, he the poor fellow stands. When the big man sits, he sits. Maybe we got this peculiar habit from the Brits — who have since found no need to have a soldier standing behind the Queen.

What I will, however, never understand is why African leaders love red carpets, or the colour red for that matter. All State Houses in Africa look garish and unsightly because everything is red in colour. I wouldn’t be surprised if the toilet paper in African Statehouses is red. 

And then after all that redness at home, the African leader must walk on a red carpet. What is this red carpet nonsense?

Tell you what? Shaka Zulu never walked on a red carpet and that didn’t make him a lesser man or leader? It would very interesting to find out how much Africa spends on red carpets.