1. It was mid-19th century, the Victorian Era was underway. The English embarked on a journey they called, the “Victorian Purpose” for Africa. One of the chief antagonists of that expedition was Cecil John Rhodes. He was unorthodox, “the maverick’s Maverick.” WALK WITH ME.
2. Rhodes did as he pleased, & only told the politicians in London later. He called the English - “God’s divine vessels in carrying out his own ideas.” But David Livingstone had entirely different idea. Livingstone believed that imperialists had a duty to help the “unfortunate.”
3. He was literally the first white man to cross the continent of Africa. While Livingstone saw himself as a servant to Namibians, Rhodes had other ideas. Rhodes once said to his men; “Africa is ready for us, it’s our duty to take it.” He was the buccaneer, brash & brutal.
4. Rhodes was the punisher. Like the Roman Legions, he went into Southern Africa like conquering Caesar, stamping out rebellions wherever he saw it. While Livingstone treasures was in Heaven, Rhodes reward was concretized on earth, or beneath it. At least he believed so.
5. The Diamond “New Rush” Kimberly Town in Southern Africa, was a place were desperate men came to get rich, or die trying. For Rhodes, the diamonds was his own for the taking. Back then, you could find the five richest men in Africa at this exclusive hall called “Kimberly club,”
6. While Southern Africa business elites gathered at Kimberly club were more into the money & diamonds, Rhodes had other ideas. He had his eyes set on a more mundane affair, which was “consolidating his powers.” Now specifically, Rhodes called his quest for power, “My Idea.”
7. Rhodes was for the riches under the soil, he was out for conquest as well. He would build a massive network of trains from the Cape of the tip of Southern Africa, through South Africa, present Zambia, crossing Uganda, into Sudan, all the way up to Cairo in the Mediterranean.
8. An audacious plan by many stretch. He had the mind of a conquerer & conquer he did. Rhodes great idea was to bring the whole of the uncivilized world under one umbrella, the “British Empire.” A territory fit for the White Man, his purpose, debauchery, & aristocratic vanities.
9. Egalitarianism was at odds with Rhodes Idea. He imagined a civilized empire that was going to be more popular than the entire United States. Rhodes set out to achieve his IDEA with irregular army called the “Pioneers.” But he saw himself more as a businessman, than a soldier.
10. “Take what you can, ask me later,” said Lord Salisbury (UK’s 3x Prime Minister). This idea suited Rhodes design, perfectly. For him, his mission is to float mining companies, cultivate the lands, & preserve peace & order, the way he saw it fit. To put it mildly - “to invade.”
11. Rhodes & his Pioneers would use the force of machine gun & bribery, hiding under ‘treaties’ to carve out Zimbabwe. He balkanized the stretch of Southern Africa for his glory & the greatness of the Crown & the United Kingdom. It was an Era of pillage, looting & enrichment,
12. occasioned by the force of guns, but also of conquest & balkanization like no other. The History of the British Empire is soaked in blood & subjugation of many African Colonies. The Empire is still transitioning from Imperialism & Racism, to opening its iron doors to Reforms.
13. On Colonialism, the United Kingdom have been through pride & shame, nowadays? mostly in denial. If the English truly want to understand who they really are, then it is time for new generation of Brits to stop pretending like imperialism had nothing to do with them. SPEAK!!
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