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Comment by mahmud | Hacker News Reader

Africans are very creative and resourceful people.

Hey, thanks! You non-Africans seem that way to us as well. Maybe it's just something we all humans have in common?

Children are building their own toys, mechanics can repair any car or engine. If they are missing some elements, they will be built.

I have noticed the same thing in the Chinese, South Asians, Latin Americans, South East Asians, East Europeans and ex Soviets! Actually, I might be on to something here. All poor people are just good at fixing things, usually bicycles, and recycling. It's like, necessity taught them or something.

I have also noticed that people in the developed world are just as good at "fixin" things, albeit non-physical things. I greatly admire your ability to "startup" and advance your lives in anyway possible. Sometimes I wonder if our ancestral village elder traveled to your lands and tutored you in the ways of survival. Amazing you are!

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You missed my point. Those sentences were to introduce the fact that they don't need help they're not asking for.

Why do you feel the need to take them as offending?

Those are things i admire in Africa, like the fact that you are considered as a human being rather than a consumer. Yes, because of the lack of wealth as we know it in occidental countries, but wealth can take many forms.

I am not offended, just confused by your afro-centrism ;-)

It's very typical to mystify and revere Africa (or the non-occidental Other, in general) as something noble, rich in tradition, hospitable, etc. but even these kind words alienate the people spoken of (as opposed to the people spoken to) Admiring "resourcefulness", a universal human trait, in just the Africans means one of two things to me: 1) Inability to see the same quality in non-Africans (which is afro-centrism) or 2) Patronizing Africans for their ability to, well, "use what they've got" :-P

If you want to see sheer human ingenuity and resourcefulness all you have to do is look at prison tools and weapons. Any 1st world citizen will be reduced into an "African" once thrown in jail and stripped of all property; they end up collecting small items and fashioning them to works of art. It's nothing special.

You can see traces of this "patronizing" of the other going as far back as Rouseu and his noble savage. The modern day, American, equivalent is a funny series of commercials ran by GEICO, and American insurance company. A caveman is portrayed having a very normal life; he plays tennis, has an on again off again relationship, goes out with friends, yet he is treated as different everywhere he goes. To himself, he is just "like us" :-)

Well, this topic is about Africa, that is why my comments may seem afro-centric (maybe I also miss my life as a kid in Bondoukou).

The trait I admire most about humans is their ability to adapt to any situation.

And yes, I also admire the expression of that trait in Africa.

And because of this ability to adapt to any situation, the idea I wanted to share is :

Let them do and help only if they are asking for.

Alright, I see where you're coming from.

Cheers! :-)

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