THE MENACE OF AFRICAN TIME

THE MENACE OF AFRICAN TIME
By Okechi-Gospel Okereke
As a young boy in my early days, I often heard my father repeat this ancient proverb, “time waits for nobody, but man waits for time”. Inexperienced as I was a big puzzle. As Jesus disciples often did, I asked what it meant.

With the aid of a wall clock, he told me there is no situation that can stop the movement of time. As the sun goes round the equator the time ticks and nobody can slow down or fasten its movement, or even stretch it beyond 24hours. Science proves to us that irrespective of different time zone observed all over the globe, no day is greater or less than 24 hours.

Based on this fact, it is clear that it is man who struggles to meet up with time, and not the other way round. Any time lost cannot be recovered, though activities might be rescheduled but at the expense of another time.

The question here is, why do we always abuse our use of time? In both private and public organizations, including government establishments, sheer disregard for time is observed either in delay of job delivery, giving excuses that are not tenable or mere lassitude towards one’s duty. This comes in various styles and cuts across all tiers of the organization. People spend time waiting endlessly to see the MD or the Director of an establishment, only for them to see a man with a briefcase at the end of the day, rushing out like one being chased by a mad dog or someone wearing a strong face like one who misplaced his car keys all in a bid to cover up for the atrocities they committed in keeping people waiting and unattended to.

As if that is not enough, the worst of it all is the menace of ‘African time” so called, where extra thirty minutes or one hour is added to the stipulated time; so that when a meeting is scheduled for 7:00 am participants and attendees start arriving 30mins – 1hour later thereby slowing the tide of progress, accounting for lateness, amounting to disorganization, lack of seriousness, delay etc.

Even in the Church setting the story is not different, because when a preacher says ‘I will be brief’ it’s an indication that the service will be very lengthy and will not end anytime soon (laughs). What is the essence of preaching when perhaps everyone in the audience is fast asleep? Lou Cook, former president of the Alexandria Virginia school board uses this adage: “sometimes the mind can absorb only what the seat can endure”; Arch Lustberg adds, “even in conversation, it isn’t unusual for people to say too much”. Most speeches, presentations, and meeting go on beyond human endurance. I have attended conference where preachers were booed. “E don do, e don do”, was the response from the audience, because of long a sermon.

I disagree with people who believe that sermons should not be timed. Personally I think they’re making big mistake and should have a rethink. For those who are carried away by the spirit, they should remember that; “the spirit of the prophet is under the prophet”.
A lot of people have missed their flight, job interviews, contract signing, important appointments and memorable events all because of ‘African time’. This brings in most cases regrets, disappointments, frustration.
In the global world ‘African time’ is a menace, very irrelevant, and a threat to personal integrity. It’s for unserious people, those looking for excuses to cover up for their laziness. I found out that many times a leadership is forced to follow this ugly trend they delay and waste the time of time-conscious individuals in a bid to accommodate the ‘African- time-adhering superiors’. Statistics show that African-time mentality has been responsible for 95% lateness among individuals who hitherto were punctual in activities.
In this world system in which activities / businesses are strictly regulated by time, we must of necessity change our orientation towards time management. SO LET US RISE UP AGAINST THIS MENACE OF AFRICAN TIME, because the global village does not operate on African time neither does the African continent.