Everything for sale.

CONSCIENTIOUS intellectuals of the modern world would feel no hesitation in admitting that the original sin of the New World, including Europe and America, is slavery that they committed centuries ago vis-a-vis the people of the Dark Continent. Likewise, when we analyse the development plight of the Third World countries, we realise that the actual crime of the ruling establishment in these nations is the rampant corruption they have committed against their people by stealing national wealth and ruining social, political and governance structures.

According to historical records, what was to become regular transatlantic slave trade involving the Europeans and the people of Africa probably began in 1491 when Portuguese sailors, in the guise of traders, priests and emissaries, arrived in the kingdom of the Kongo. Slavery in Africa then was not as harsh as what the Europeans later established in the New World. As time passed, the lust for slave profits converted into such 'monstrous greed' that priests abandoned their preaching and began to keep black women and men as enslaved people and then sold them to Portuguese merchants. This fever seized not only the priests but also corrupt local chiefs who were getting rich on the back of the slave trade. They were depopulating their lands by selling human cargo to the Portuguese in return for fascinating jewellery, clothes, tools and household ornaments.

King Affonso took over as the ruler of the Kongo in 1506. He was not an abolitionist, but he was against overseas slavery. His strong opposition to the overseas slave trade incurred the enmity of foreigners and local chiefs. During his long rule, Affonso wrote to Portuguese King Joao III to stop the slave trade in his lands, but to no avail. Affonso also sent messengers to the Pope, but the Portuguese traders kidnapped them before they reached Rome. The slave trade in the Kongo continued till the late 19th century. Internal chaos and regional disunity led to the dismemberment of the kingdom, making it easy for the Europeans to colonise the whole territory.

In one place, King Affonso is found complaining to his fellow chiefs: 'In this kingdom, faith is as fragile as glass because of the bad examples of the men who come to teach here, because the lusts of the world and lure of wealth have turned them away from the truth. Just as the Jews crucified the Son of God because of covetousness, my brothers, so today he is again crucified.'

States get weak not...