Why Africans are not celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s life

It seems Africans are not mournful of the passing of the head of the British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen took her last breath surrounded by family on Thursday.

SOME AFRICANS ARE STILL BITTER ABOUT COLONISATION AMID PASSING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH

While Africans and South Africans are sharing memes about the death of the Queen and others expressing anger towards her passing, this is because of the atrocities which came with colonisation, said political analysts.

Harsh remarks were also shared by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which said they will not mourn “the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very tragic period in this country and Africa’s history.”.

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The British Empire and other European countries have colonised all of Africa except two countries, said political analyst Dr Zamo Mbandlwa.

These colonised countries remain bitter in terms of the economy.

“This is despite the late Queen Elizabeth not being responsible for the colonisation and oppression. But one would find that, particularly the monarchy itself, is highly responsible for how Africa is currently in terms of the economy and development,” he told The South African.

QUEEN ELIZABETH PART OF MONARCH LEADERSHIP FOR DECADES BUT SHOWED NO REMORSE FOR ACTIONS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

The late Queen passed at the age of 96 but in the past 70 years of her leadership in the monarch, Mbandlwa says she seems to have shown little remorse.

Instead, she should have given Africa some guidelines and clear directions on what needs to be done to uplift the continent economically.  

“It is why in many countries they still believe that the monarchy and the structure itself is responsible for the oppression of Africans and also responsible for the decline in the economy of Africa,” Mbandlwa said.

“She has not done anything but should have done something to allow Africa to be independent in the economic perspective, and not necessarily the political perspective. Up until today, African countries are still paying their debts and are still controlled by foreign countries.”

Dr Zamo Mbandlwa

COLONIALISM HAS LEFT A BAD TASTE IN MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING OUTSIDE AFRICA

The British Empire is responsible for the colonisation of a list of countries in Africa, including outside the continent like Singapore, the Caribbean and India.

This has left many with emotional scars that they cannot overcome or embrace, said political analyst Professor Lesiba Teffo.

“It is not [Queen Elizabeth] but the institution of the monarchy which she embodied. It is the institution and what it has represented.

THE ISSUE OF THE DIAMOND

Queen Elizabeth owned the largest clear-cut diamond in the world, known as The Great Star of Africa. This large 530.2 carat diamond, mined in 1905 in Pretoria, forms part of the late Queen’s crown jewel.

While the largest diamond was ‘gifted’ to the reigning British Monarch, King Edward VII, it has sparked debate on social media about its return since the Queen has passed.

But those are some of the historical legacies that the British Monarch still have, said Teffo.

“The story of the diamond that is on the crown. That is our crown and not the British crown… We are not saying the British are bad but please appreciate there are those who are celebrating her and those who are not celebrating her. The greater sentiments [among Africans] are nonchalant. They are not mournful because they don’t consider it a big event,” Teffo said.

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