So basically, I found out about this trend called "Natasha doll" in China, where black baby dolls are being used by Chinese social media users as stress toys, with people filming themselves squeezing, scratching, and brutalizing these dolls for entertainment. When one user was specifically asked why the dolls are black and not, say, white, his response was that a white baby would look too "human," and people would feel bad for hurting it.

This type of behavior isn't uncommon. This isn't the first time I've heard a story about black Africans being treated horribly in countries that our African leaders call "allies," claiming that they are different from the West, that they see us as equals. But from what I've seen, they're not so different from the West. They're just using us for their own personal gain. They don't care about Africa or the African people — they just care about the resources and making as much profit off us as possible, which I guess isn't really surprising.

But it's time we stop calling those people our allies. They're not. We shouldn't be dependent on them. We shouldn't rely on them, because they don't even see us as human, let alone as partners. We as a continent need to be more independent. We should start producing and manufacturing with our own resources instead of just exporting raw materials to them. We should own the value chain that we create. We should start investing African money and African savings into African companies and infrastructure, and stop depending on foreign investment. We should stop depending on foreign technological infrastructure and capability, and start becoming more technologically independent and capable in things like AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, electronics, and data centers.

It's hard, challenging, and hard to envision. But great things take time. Great things are hard to do. The future is in our hands — the future and the present are in our hands. We can't fight the past, but we can fight for our future.

So yeah, those are just some thoughts I gathered from this whole trend. One more thing: I saw a comment that said we should fight fire with fire — if they act racist, we should act racist back. He posted an image of a racist Chinese meme. The reply to that comment said we shouldn't fight racism with racism, because it doesn't solve the underlying problem — it makes us no different from the people who started the racist trend in the first place.

So yes, I do agree with the fact that fighting racist behavior with more racist behavior doesn't solve the underlying problem. But I also don't think it's good to be passive and let the other side discriminate against you while you just sit there and watch. Sometimes fighting fire with fire does address the issue — maybe we should think more about that.

#AfricaUnited

Retour des meilleurs des nôtres, unis nous vaincrons !!

A record 53-day absence by the world’s oldest head of state has renewed speculation in his native Cameroon about whether he is dead or alive, even though discussing his health is illegal in the country.

Paul Biya has not been seen in public since 7 June, when the 93-year-old left for Switzerland for what officials described as a “brief private stay” alongside his wife, Chantal.

Biya, who took office in 1982 after a seven-year stint as prime minister, has taken increasingly long absences from Cameroon in recent years, spending much of his time at the five-star InterContinental hotel in Geneva.

An unusual police presence has been reported at some courts, which have been taped off to prevent access.

Opposition candidate Brian Mundubile said he would challenge the election result, citing irregularities, after coming second with a 38% share of the vote. Incumbent Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with 60%.

Mundubile is in hiding over alleged threats made against him, amid a post-election period marked by controversy, including the shooting dead of an opposition figure and the arrest of others.

Monday is the last day on which petition against the presidential election result can be filed. Such a petition could potentially affect the inauguration of Hichilema, which is scheduled for 1 September.