From the balcony to Varandas and Sporting Clube de Portugal

Alberto Mudjadju"

The statements made by Frederico Varandas, president of Sporting Clube de Portugal, have generated, are generating, and will continue to generate much controversy and criticism, especially from Africans who analyze words rationally and not emotionally.ʺ...that jthentheo se vandIn peripheral Europe, it is only seen in Africa.ʺThese statements, due to their offensive nature, perpetuate negative stereotypes about Africa and its people, suggesting that the continent is backward (we don't need reminders of who is to blame for this situation) compared to Europe. Furthermore, these statements ignore the diversity and complexity of Africa, reducing the continent to a simplistic and stereotypical view. I join many Africans and descendants who immediately expressed their indignation and discontent on social media and other channels, not to mention some African leaders who considered it a form of racism and discrimination. It is fundamental to recognize and challenge the stereotypes and negative views that perpetuate discrimination and racism. Africa is an incredibly diverse continent, with more than 50 countries and 2,000 unique languages, cultures, traditions, and histories, with rich biodiversity and natural resources, and resilient and creative peoples. It is essential to recognize and value this diversity instead of perpetuating stereotypes and simplistic views. But to achieve this, it requires learning about African history and culture, as well as respecting differences and promoting equality (together we can work towards greater awareness for Africa and its people).

Those who judge Africa based on its underdevelopment must consider that the history of this continent is marked by centuries of colonization (from the Arab colonization, which was the most terrible because it involved castration, to the European colonization, which in some situations robbed us of our identity), exploitation, and oppression by Europe, which significantly contributed to the continent's stagnation over time. Because Europe colonized Africa, exploiting its natural and human resources, and imposing economic and political systems that benefited the colonizers, even after independence, Europe continued to exert economic and political influence over Africa, perpetuating dependence and underdevelopment. Therefore, it is important to understand that beyond the challenges that Africa itself faces, such as corruption, internal conflicts, and lack of investment in education and infrastructure, it also has a shared responsibility with the international community, including Europe, which has a responsibility to help Africa develop (we return to the old discussion between Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, where one said that Europe should compensate Africa for the damage caused by colonization, the other said that there is no amount of money that can pay for what they did to us, hence the best thing is to move on).

The economic history of Europe (the non-peripheral part) today is intimately linked to the exploitation of resources (gold, diamonds, slaves, raw materials) in Africa, which contributed significantly to Europe's economic development, especially during the Industrial Revolution, allowing it to perceive itself today as superior to Africa. Thanks to this continent, Europe achieved its economic development and civilizational advancement, and we cannot forget that Africa is the cradle of humanity and has a rich history of advanced civilizations, such as Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, etc. Colonization created the destruction of cultures and the creation of economic dependence, and as a final result, the underdevelopment that persists to this day. It is important to recognize the complexity of history and work towards a more just and equitable relationship between Europe and Africa, and not a relationship of who is superior to whom, because history has dictated much of the status quo of both continents today. No European can simply condemn Africa for its underdevelopment without acknowledging their own past responsibility, because the history of colonization, exploitation, and oppression is a burden that Europe still carries and that affects Africa to this day. There are several aspects that Europe must address, such as recognizing the historical debt it has with Africa and working to settle it, as well as working with Africa to promote the sustainable and equitable development of the African continent, and not engaging in speeches like those of the president of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Frederico Varandas, with the idea of ​​belittling the continent that helped them reach their current civilizational level. These statements are a case of once again disagreeing with Léopold Senghor's old saying.ʺA razthetheandhellandnica, and the emohereIt is African.ʺBecause President Varandas let himself be carried away by emotion.   

2025/12/3