Most Francophone leaders on the African continent strive, supposedly in the name of Françafrique, to maintain close ties with the former colonial power.
This has been argued as an attempt at cordiality but it is perhaps much deeper. Senegal’s independence leader, Leopold Senghor, once preached the point that the destiny of France’s former colonies is inextricably linked to that of France.
What has therefore transpired since the 1960s is a movement from the Africans towards the French.
For critics, this affinity is a spillover from the French policy of assimilation which regarded Francophone Africans as citizens but in the sense of second-class.
The chief effect of this acculturation means that many middle-class Africans in France’s former colonies are looking to be francalized in the same way Victorian values appeal to the privileged class in Britain’s former African colonies.
In the same vein, we are told Abidjan, the capital city of the Ivory Coast is “Petit Paris”.
France also rewards the loyalty of African leaders. Ask any political observer on the African continent and they will tell you that most coups in former French colonies do not happen on the blind side of Paris.
As follows are four African leaders who cannot get enough of the support the French government lavishes on them.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has said that his little brother was subjected to racial abuse,…
Reggie Bush has regained his place as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner after over a…
Since 2012, actor Nick Cannon has openly shared his struggle with lupus to support others…
Former USC superstar Caleb Williams has been drafted by the Chicago Bears as the No.…
Stephen A. Smith is an ESPN analyst. People widely regard him as the face of…
Lil Durk is an American rapper and one of the most influential voices in the…
In 2022, Kevin Hart added a new title to his impressive resume: a tequila entrepreneur.…
AEW's latest pay-per-view, Dynasty 2024 on Sunday night saw Swerve Strickland defeat Samoa Joe to…
Renowned civil rights activist Opal Lee, known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," will be awarded…
Violet Horne lost her two sons to gun violence within the space of a month.…
An Ohio man said a K-9 bit him seven times after he was pulled over…
Three male foreign tourists who were spotted posing naked in a popular dune in Namibia…
Will.i.am is partnering with other prominent figures to revolutionize the digital media scene by forming…
Sabelle Beraki's childhood was inundated with the lack of representation when it came to a…
Benjamin Harvey is the founder of AI Squared, a third-party software company that helps organizations…