THE AFRICAN DAGGA CULTURE

In my country, dagga is a Luo- Kenya’s 2^nd largest ethnic group- name for a fish that is a delicacy. In Southern African countries, dagga the name of the common plant cannabis. This plant in Sothern Africa dates back to 16^th century Bashilange tribe who lived in what the German explorer, Herman Von Wissman described as ‘daggers drawn’. He describes a heap- smoking worship/ culture of the dagga plant among the tribe known as the Ben- Riamba meaning sons of hemp. In Eastern Africa, the cannabis plant dates back to 14^th century Ethiopia where two ceramic smoking-pipe bowls containing traces of it were recently discovered during an archaeological excavation and in Sudan, where founding of the culture was attributed to a mysterious woman named Sirdar- little is known about this though. This culture has also been documented by other Africa explorers such as David Livingstone, Henri Junod, Jao des Santos- a Dominican priest and one of the first authors on books about the people of Africa- among others.

Photo courtesy of http://www.nguniseeds.com/

Cannabis growing and use wasn’t only practiced in Africa but also in Asia. When industrialization began to take root in Africa- such as that of sugar at the Cape of Good Hope- more labor was needed and the British sought it from its Indian colony who also had a hemp culture, a habit which they brought with them. By the time the whites arrived into and before dividing it into colonies, cannabis was part of African tribes as a way of escaping from humdrum characteristics found in nearly all societies whether primitive or highly industrious. Africa was a country of dagga cultures whereas Europe besot itself in alcohol. 

The global debate around marijuana legislation is pretty vibrant with some states and countries in the US and in Europe respectively, legalizing it either for medicinal or recreational purposes. The United States earns around 2.7 billion dollars from this industry while the EU makes about 10.7 billion dollars. This countries do not produce enough to meet its market demand but they still are able to satisfy it. Where do they get their deficit from? Most of he United States' deficit is from Southern American countries such as Paraguay and Colombia while Europe’s deficit comes from Africa.

Africa is the biggest producer of cannabis in the world with Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Congo being some of the countries rated as the highest producers. In Swaziland (majorly dependent on timber and mining which is exhausting the last of the countries’ natural resources) and Lesotho (which is highly dependent on South Africa) cannabis production and sell is illegal but represents a significant source of their hard earned cash.  The crop, predominantly cultivated by poor rural farmers who grow it purely for economic necessities, generates nearly half of all agricultural income, enabling them educate their children and fend for their families. In Tanzania, cultivation of the plant is openly known by the government with some members of its parliament advocating for its legalization citing it as a cash crop of economic gain for both government and the people. In Congo, its illegalization has enriched militia groups and caused feuds amongst them for the control of the trade making it harder for the government to combat them, Rural feuds and conflicts is also evident among the farmers who cultivate it.

Photo Courtesy of http://www.blaauwberg.net/

Just like in Swaziland, Lesotho and many other countries where cannabis cultivation is popularly practiced, its illegalization creates two sets of farmers, those commissioned by the west and the EU consumers market and then a farmer who sees the neighbor benefiting from it and decides to venture into it but doesn’t have the market- where will their harvest go to as most of them are predominantly old farmers who do not consume it? This results to selling it to middle men who rob the poor farmers. With proper policies and laws put in place, its legalization will not only be an economic gain but will also enable governments to control its consumption through taxation and any other reasonable legal measure available, killing illegal smuggling of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine in the process. It will enable the government and society to teach the youth, who are the biggest consumers, on responsibility and better practices on the use of recreational drugs just like cigarettes and alcohol which cause greater harm.

Throughout history western and European nations have been benefiting despite Africa being the producers of the world’s raw materials. Just like in Kenya, where wildlife is being killed- a major revenue earner- for Ivory and other wildlife products, diamonds in Sierra Leon, coltan in the Congo, oil in Nigeria, where only a few benefit from it. Africa loses its resources due to ignorance, stigmatization and not appreciating its cultures and traditions that have been practiced from one generation to another due to ideologies embedded in it by colonial powers. I’m not saying that we should promote drug use but I advocate for the opposite, do not do drugs. Making it illegal has certainly not helped since the creation of this laws and cases of abuse are on a rise, let’s not leave in denial, its cultivation and consumption is a reality very much alive in Africa, we need to face it and if we do not, we lose both our people and resources.