The Great Forgetting

If one looks carefully, there is much evidence that Africa moves backwards while the rest of the world goes forewards.

Starting with the magnificent pyramids of Egypt and the colossal libraries of Alexandria and Timbuktu. Knowledge of mathematics, engineering and law was widespread and deep.

In one Arabic scholar's words,Timbuktu had " …no equal among the cities of the blacks ... and was known for its solid institutions, political liberties, purity of morals, security of its people and their goods, compassion towards the poor and strangers, as well as courtesy and generosity towards students and scholars."

Then followed the Great Forgetting.

While the Eastern and Western worlds built on their knowledge, Africa began forgetting how to read and write, how to compute and build. The edifice of the law was broken down until it became the whim of despotic leaders. The art of building was almost entirely lost. Even the idea of bridging crocodile-infested rivers was left to the seasons rather than artifice. Woven cotton robes were no longer made and animal skins barely hid nakedness making the higher interior of southern Africa uninhabitable due to harsh winters.

Colonialism briefly brought the bright shining light of knowledge back to the dark continent but is now sputtering out in the continuation of the Great Forgetting.

In South Africa, standards of education and knowledge retention are rapidly falling to new world lows. Pass rates are falling at around one percent per year after majority rule.

The rest of the world is traveling up an escalator to the stars while Africa is sliding down the slippery vine right past the high achievers going the other way.

Both journeying to their destiny at their own pace, one to the unknown galaxies in space, the other to the well-known back of the unlit cave.