User:Gianelli Antat

Notion of time of the African States of the Indian Ocean

The term is used to differ from the notion of what is generally used to call African time. Lets us first see what African time really is. It is necessarily used to refer to only African people but to black people in general. One may think that all black people are somewhat African just by the skin color. African time is often referred to the fact that African people (black people) have their own notion of time compared to the west, Europe or may I even say, to white people’s notion of time.  What strongly grounds this notion is that it is seen as a cultural tendency and that in every Africa or black community time is inferior. What is also important to note is that in parts of Africa and the Caribbean this term is perceived as a more relaxed manner or attitude to time. What needs to be is that African time to obligations towards extremely important events and everyday life differs greatly. This is most of the time used in a pejorative sense, referring to the lateness when attending to appointments, important events such as major conferences, negotiating meetings, issues of National and global importance and even weddings and funerals. This attitude is also visible when it comes to leisure activities, outings and less rigorous schedules which are also somewhat important but can be overlooked. African time shows the defying nature towards the more clock-bound pace of daily life in Western and European countries. To note is that Asian based countries even have a better understanding and respect towards the Western world notion of time. Just to note that Chinese people in particular.

Island Nations of the Indian Ocean

Africa consist of the main mother continent and also its eastern side; the Island States of the Indian Ocean. It consist of the Seychelles Islands, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Comoros, Rodrigues, the Maldives (Diego Garcia).

Unlike the common perception of the African time of the main mother continent, the Islands of the Indian Ocean have a better reputation regarding the latter. The tardiness is barely visible within these communities. The island nations actually have a more laid back attitude but consider seriously the commitment and engagement towards very important and pressing issues being it locally, regionally and even internationally. For example, the Seychelles Islands are more too often congratulated for its high level of professionalism, in the fields of Diplomacy, Public Relations, the particular attention given to the Tourism industry as a whole in order not to be considered as being culprit of the already bad notion of African time. Controversy of praising the Island Nations of the Indian Ocean brought many to say or think that these island states were not really part of the African Continent. What is very important to note is that following these differences in mentality, some countries of the African Continent found it extremely necessary to man up their game, posing a direct competition to the Island States of the Indian Ocean. Though part of the African continent, the Island States of the Indian Ocean redefines this term. to a greater extent we even defy what is also the mentality in the Caribbeans.

In Europe, in Britain for example, the notion of African time is also know under another name; the black people time or the Caribbean time. To note that there are two different significance to the aforementioned two notions. The subject African time or colored people time have numerous time been used by very high level State officials namely, Bill de Blasio, when he gave the excuse for his taking so long to endorse Hillary Clinton was him running on "C.P. Time," except in this case, he explained, (Hillary Clinton), it meant "cautious politician time just trying to be funny. Very  recently the Former President of the United States of America, President Barrack Obama at an official State dinner that and I quote, “sorry I was a little bit late tonight, I was running on C.P.T, which stands for jokes that white people shouldn’t make” unquote.

Aspects of African time: Difference from Island time

The lack of punctuality and the idea that there is no care given is a problem in solving Africa’s related issues. This kind of attitude may reflect the approach and method used in managing tasks, the livelihood, events and every day human interactions. In African culture there is this believe that people tend to manage or handle more than one thing at a time rather than focusing on one specific thing or issue, complete it and then move to the next. The readiness or the habit of addressing different issues in one conversation is also very much evident in the daily life which again shows the attitude of polychromies.

What is also confusing to Europeans or white people is that they confuse the laid back attitude with simply purposefully being late or being late in general. African time or black people time need not to be confused with “Island time”, laid back life style. The Caribbean suffer the same faith being island nations.

Self-criticism

The danger of African time in modern Africa. Seychelles perspective:

If we sit down, compare and analyze the notion of African time from an Island State perspective, specifically the Seychelles we can see that this small island State of 115 islands of the Indian Ocean wins every time in that same regard. Not to be biased, the Seychelles might be firs tin few countries of Africa which abides by the European or Western notion of time causing our neighbors to question the fact that if the Seychellois people are really African.

“Let us analyze a specific situation which took place about two years ago, around May 2014. The African Continent hosted on of its biggest conferences which was called the SADC Ministerial Conference which was held in Lilongwe, Malawi. Great leaders of the African continent belonging to that particular organization took part in this very important and prestigious Ministerial Conference. The day the major Conference was to be held each heads of States were given a specific time, together with their motorcades to leave the residence they were be lodged at bearing in mind the large number of people in each delegation. This was done in order to avoid commotion and to allow smooth entry of each heads of States and delegation. The Seychelles delegation was supposed to be the 7^th delegation to arrive at the venue according to the time schedule. Surprisingly the then Vice-President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Danny Faure was the first one to arrive. The second head of State only arrived about an hour and a half later. The Conference was delayed four hours to wait for the arrival of the other African delegation.

To that extent, what the African people need to realize is that matters of significant importance require serious attention. If Africa wants to move forward as a continent all countries involved must make special effort and contribution and show the willingness to solve its problems. With this attitude many European countries and the West look down on Africa, as itself contributing to its down fall and very slow development.

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References

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