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The death of Queen Elizabeth II caused grief and heartfelt praise from leaders and people around the world.
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Many former British settlers publicly commemorated the Queen, while others shared photos of Her Majesty’s visits to their respective countries.
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But this favor is not consistent. For some, his death revived memories of the bloody history of colonial rule: atrocities against indigenous peoples, the theft of statues and artifacts from West African countries, the theft of gold and diamonds from southern Africa and the India, the control of slavery and oppression.
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While South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the queen as an extraordinary public figure who will be fondly remembered by many around the world, the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has said she will not be one of the mourners.
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The Economic Freedom Fighters Party, the country’s third largest party, said in a statement: “During her 70-year reign as queen, she never admitted to the crimes Britain and her family have committed across the country. world, in fact, is the proud standard bearer of atrocities “.
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“For us, his passing is a reminder of a very tragic period in the history of our country and of Africa”.
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On social media, the critics go further.
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A 1961 photo of Queen Elizabeth dancing with the president of Ghana shattered apartheid in South Africa.
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The tweet of Nigerian-born American professor Uju Anya a few hours before the queen’s death sparked heated debate. One of them was removed from Twitter for breaking the rules. In a second tweet, he wrote: “If anyone expects him to express anything other than contempt for the monarch, then you can go ahead and make a skyrocketing wish. Because the government overseen by this monarch supports genocide, the half slaughtered and displaced by my family, and those living today are still grappling with the consequences. “
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Her tweet was an obvious reference to the Biafra War of the late 1960s, in which the British government supported and armed the Nigerian government, which blocked the separatists’ self-proclaimed Biafra Republic, starved her to death. and eventually crushed the fabric.
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Twitter user @ParrenEssential replied that this is not how Nigerians behave, adding, “You are misrepresenting our culture and our country.”
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Others said that berating someone at the time of their death was very un-African.
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On the day of the queen’s death, a post appeared asking for the return of the “Star of Africa” diamond, mined in South Africa in 1905 and which is now part of the British royal family’s jewels. Many call it “stolen”. Although it was bought by the Transvaal government and given to the British royal family as a symbol of loyalty.
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But the prevailing opinion on social media is that the real owners of “African Star” are South Africans. Twitter user @Qban_Linx said the $ 400 million diamond – the largest of which was set in the royal scepter worn by the monarch during his coronation – could cover the higher education costs of 75,000 South African students.
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Queen Elizabeth held a scepter in her right hand with the Star of Africa inlaid during her coronation.
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There have been similar protests in India, where the hashtag “Kohinoor” took off quickly after Queen Elizabeth’s death, a term referring to a large diamond in the British royal tiara that Camilla is said to wear.
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Other critics argue that the queen should use her power and influence to ensure the return of the remains of those who fought against British colonial rule.
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Kenyans and South Africans were asking for heads of heroes like Koitalel Samoei. At the end of the 19th century, in present-day Kenya, Samoe led the Nandi resistance, as did King Hinstsa kaKhawula of the kingdom of Xhosa in South Africa, who was killed in 1835. After their bodies were dismembered, the heads were brought in England as trophies.
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The brutal killing of Kenyans during the Mau Mau rebellion is also remembered. Gitu Wa Kahengeri, 17, who joined the rebellion 81 years ago, remembers being held in a camp by British troops, beaten and deprived of food.
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image source,Reuters
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The veteran of Mao Mao Kahengeri’s revolt condemned Britain’s actions but said he would cry for the queen.
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“They took my land, my birthright,” he told Reuters. “But we are mourning the queen because she is a human, a human being,” she said. “We regret the death of the people.”
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Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who called the queen a “high icon of selfless service”, drew criticism from some Kenyans for announcing four days of national mourning.
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Former Botswana president Ian Khama is another defender of the queen’s legacy, describing it as irreplaceable.
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“Colonialism is not something we want to remember, it was a dark time,” he said. “The queen brought the inheritance, she was not a designer … but when she came out, she seemed to repair the damage done by colonialism, she showed that we are not above you, we want to be part of your development and help you grow as a nation “.
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She believes the continent should see her as “a person who took her from a dark past into a new era”.
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Many say the queen never apologized for the crimes committed in the name of the Empire. However, she admitted to “distressing” and “difficult” experiences such as the 1919 massacre in Amritsar in northern India. In 1997, a British general ordered troops to open fire on protesters in a fenced garden from which there was no escape, and she gave a speech expressing regret before visiting the site.
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“History cannot be rewritten, no matter how much we wish it at times. It has moments of sadness and moments of joy. We must learn from sadness and build on happiness.”
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