Why is the UK so obsessed with Africa?

Question

It sems that we bend over backwards for this country. The highest percentage of asylum seekers are allowed in the UK from there. We have a whopping great concert for Nelson Mandela (twice) and also a statue of him over here. Mother Teresa was a great compassionate being, but you dont hear of her being immortalised in Britain. Of course the Band Aid thing was a good cause but since then we have just become literally obsessed with the country. Is there something there that the Government wants? and why does the British public want to commemorate a man whom has no contribution to Britain?

Answer 1

Africa is of course a continent! Not a country. And a very large continent as well.

As we used to occupy a lot of Africa, taking slaves and exploiting their natural resources for our own etc, we are a little responsible for some of the countries well being. Its not our fault they fight each other, but Britain has a large arms trade. And guess where they go? Africa.

Take into account that forget all the politics aside, there are millions of human beings in peril, whether they be in war zones, starving, diseases etc with no foreseeable solution. Not just Britain, but the World should be paying attention and doing something about it, even if that means enforcing peace in Africa i.e taking out Mugabe and other dictators.

Nelson Mandela spoke for change, spoke for peace and for a good future for South Africa, in the hope his message would spread throughout his country and then further afield across his Continent. He done a lot of good, and rightly so should be commemorated.

I would like to think that Britain/England stands for peace, fairness, respect and consideration for others, and generally hospitable and good will to others. Our past may have been somewhat dodgy, but we have evolved into the above and therefore can command respect from the rest of the world, as most of the world sees us in a good light. And it is that light which we as such an influential country can use to help others and help lead the way into changing the World. How much of the world speaks English? A lot.

Mandela has contributed a lot to world peace and fairness, so Britain would naturally be on his side as he works to the same values.

Answer 2

Maybe because it has to do with the fact that the British owned so much of Africa before the fifties and sixties happened and they got rid of their empire.  Look on an old map of Africa:  half of Africa was pink (British) and the other half was green (French).

Answer 3

Try listening to Radio 4 or the BBC World Service, Africa is everywhere. I just switch it off.

Answer 4

because it makes the do-gooders feel special.

Answer 5

Not the UK but certainly the BBC. I ask this question of myself every day.

Answer 6

We re obsessed with Africa the continent,  its not a country.  We should be obsessed, its an absolute disgrace whats happening there.  In the past we ve had minor conflicts in East Timor and Kosovo,  and europe and americe are tripping over themselves to send troops and bring peace,  and Africa?  No one gives a d**n,  Nelson Mandela should be celebrated as an icon of hope for all those poor people, thats the least us priveleged westerners can do.

Answer 7

Its called post colonial guilt, personally Id don't give a f*ck, but then I'm not the bleeding heart liberals in government.

Answer 8

I can only think of it being Residual Guilt - as i was only born in the 1960's; i don't see why i should feel guilty and pay for the buggers !!

Answer 9

Its by product of strategic resources seem to fetch everywhere TO CREATE MARKET FOR GREAT PROFIT and easily to grab. I think china is more obsesses than EU.

Answer 10

Africa is now a country?  Man I thought we Yanks were poorly educated.

Answer 11

Not all of us are obsessed with Africa. Only the liberal left have a guilt complex about the past

Answer 12

It's been Brown's pet project to give all our money to Africa - he is a bit of a Mrs Jellicoe if you know your Dickens.

Answer 13

If you don't understand the contribution Mandela made to preventing huge bloodshed and the saving of White  as well as Black lives in South Africa you need to educate yourself.

When you understand his greatness you will truly be ashamed for your shamefull and miserable whining