Discovering our potential as a great continent

Four years ago, the U.S went for an election that saw the son of the East African soil elected as the first black US president in history. The euphoria that rocked the region especially his ancestral home village- Kogelo, the hometown of the father of US President- Barrack Obama, that was normally sleepy become a riot of color and sound.The festivities begun way before even counting was over to celebrate “their son`s” victory to becoming the 44th president of the most powerful country in the world. Many countries in Africa announced holidays to celebrate his victory. Then came his swearing in ceremony and African leaders waited for invitation to the ceremony, but very few if any received them. The then Minister of Foreign Affairs in Kenya, Hon. Moses Wetangula went to the US to attend the ceremony as a representative of the home town of Obama. Shocking as it may sound, he was not recognized. But Africans hoped against all hopes that when the dust of the celebration settles, he would at least come home and listen to the plight of this great continent masked with undesirable faces of misery. He did not show up and when he did, he never even went to his home country. Let us excuse him for not coming because of his busy schedule.The past few weeks has seen the big debate aired in most of the world`s popular media stations and Africans waited late into the night to follow the debate. I, too waited, but for one main reason-to get to hear what is in store for Africa. Surprising enough, nothing was mentioned apart from the issue of the American ambassador to Libya Chris Steven who was killed together with three other diplomats in the violence that erupted in the Middle East and part of Africa protesting of a movie; Innocence of Muslim, that depicts Muhammad as a feckless philanderer who approved of child sexual abuse, among other overtly insulting claims.Raising questions on the stake of Africa as a continent in the forth coming elections; do we really matter as a continent in the US election? Do we really have a cut in the outcome? The answer in plain black and white is no. Trust me on this if the past four years of Obama`s presidency and the recent debate is anything to go by. One, his leadership has focused more on the Middle East affairs than of Africa. Two, in his time as the president of the most powerful country in the world, poverty, hunger, militia attacks and war have dominated the continent and finally, the economy has been unfair to the masses like never before.Yet we look up to them to find peace, avert poverty, foster democracy, pump life into our health in systems, develop our infrastructure, boost our education and replenish our agricultural sectors. Long have they forgotten of this continent? And we continue to beg for foreign aid and their intervention on our matter. Ironically, Africa can not be assumed by those considered the “big economic powers” in the world. It has all the minerals that they require for their prosperity. Talk of coffee, tea, gold, diamond name them all found in Africa- our beloved continent. We also have the innovative mind and brains they require leave alone the talent. That is why we always complain of brain drain, because they have taken our best. They have actually bitten the hands that feed them by ignoring us. We should be waiting to hear them come to request for more or even bully us with sanctions. We matter to them; we should pride of that and unite to see to it that we are heard.Let us echo that by being independent using our resources to better our continent by ourselves. We have the potential that time is soon uncovering before us. Let their ignorance be our realisation of how great we are. We should not give up but brace for the moments ahead. For, we are like a maize cob, the only different is that we are covered and they are not. Time to uncover our potential is now.