In my country, dagga is a Luo- Kenya’s 2nd 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 16th 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 14th 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.
