African China, Broken China, and Chummy China
China means Friend!
In this January 21 throwback, we revisit three metaphors related to China-Africa relations: African China, Broken China, and Chummy China.
African China refers to a Nigerian musician who warned against relying solely on foreign development models for Africa and emphasized the need for Africans to lead their own development.
Broken China discusses Ibadan’s modern-antique rusty-shiny allure “like broken china in the sun” and how AI can assist in writing and research but cannot replace human intelligence. Some of our work on Africa-China has centred on China’s digital influence and at the intersection of AI, civic freedom, and national security in Nigeria.
Chummy China examines how China lives up to the name “friend”. It asks the question: Is China a friend to Africa and Nigeria? Some of our work on Africa-China relations dealt with this at the individual and national levels. Our work this year would shed more light on this.
In the meantime, savour this throwback!
African China – The Musical Metaphor
Two decades ago, just as Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, a young Nigerian afro-pop musician emerged with a rather funny stage name, ‘African China’.
African China, Chinagorom Onuoha was quick to reveal his identity as a socially vibrant and politically aware voice with hits like No condition is permanent, Mr President, Crisis, and many others.
Just like few people know the real name of African China, fewer people know the meaning of his stage name to be African Children Have Ideas Natural for Africa. Yet the fewest people know the metaphor behind the name to be a foreshadowing and warning of the subversion of the ongoing Africa-China reality then into today’s China-Africa wedlock.
It was Africa first before China, now the thinking is China first before Africa. Of the 6 foremost organisations centering on Africa-China realities, only one put Africa first before China – The Africa-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum (ACETCF).
- The China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) conducts research on the economic, political, and security dimensions of China-Africa relations.
- The China Africa Project is a media organization that produces articles, podcasts, and videos about China-Africa relations.
- The China-Africa Development Fund is a private equity fund that invests in companies in Africa that have business ties to China.
- The China-Africa Business Council is a private-sector organization that promotes business and trade between China and Africa.
- The China-Africa Think Tank Forum is a platform for think tanks from China and Africa to exchange ideas and conduct research on issues related to China-Africa relations.
- The Africa-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum (ACETCF) is a platform for economic and trade cooperation between Africa and China.
Composed with Chat GPT
Yet, African China, the man, the music, the meaning, and the metaphor, warns that no policy think-tank, bilateral trade council, or developmental finance institution can ideate or mediate an equally beneficial African-China friendship than Africans themselves.
African China reminds us that only African Children Have Ideas Natural for Africa. Foreign extra-African developmental models for Africa would be unnatural. They may alter and deter the continent’s natural development, as was in the age of Europe-Africa realities that the China-Africa reality now threatens to replace.
Broken China – The Ibadan AI metaphor
John Pepper Clarke (1935-2020), one of the foremost African creatives, was the first to capture Ibadan’s modern-antique rusty-shiny allure as “broken china in the sun.” He determined this, with magisterial finality, in his poem, ‘Ibadan’.
No mortal ever tried to replicate the evergreen authority of this masterpiece of man-written (and Muse-assisted) statement on Ibadan. Until Artificial Intelligence (AI). Until Chat GPT.
J.P. Clark (and his Muse)
Ibadan
Ibadan,
running splash of rust
and gold-flung and scattered
among seven hills like broken
china in the sun.
The latter, assisted by Chat GPT reads:
AI (and his human Muse)
Ibadan
Spread between hills and plains
Streets that’s seen much joy and rains
Earthen houses, once whole and unbroken,
Now cracked region of rooms, and spoken,
Of a love that was once tethered
Under leaky roofs that once sheltered
Yet, like a china plate that lies shattered
Under the sun’s bright rays all still mattered
Because the Cocoa House still stands tall
With the premier University before all.
One recalling the golden heights of the past
The other preparing a future that will last.
Though times may change and cities grow,
Ibadan’s spirit will forever glow
The western city full of life and pride,
Ibadan, forever by our side.
AI is currently displaying the sunny side of the cherished but broken antique earthenwares of composition and design “like broken china in the sun.” It exhibits the broken coded scripts of academic research writings, from the arts to the sciences, from architecture to tech.
Despite the enormous help AI lends to writers, designers, and researchers, it still remains a tool. It does not promise to replace natural human intelligence.
Despite the weaknesses of Chat GPT, like many AI-enabled tools, it could be invaluable for all kinds of writers in composing reports, research, and other writing forms.
Chummy China: The African friend Metaphor
Besides being a country and also costly porcelain dishware, china means friend!
Not many agree! Not many western countries, like the United States of America and those in the European Union.
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