Elite African Students

"My halls of resident at university is filled with international students from across the globe - China, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, India etc.

I want to focus on the Africans. My neighbour and friend is Portuguese / Angolan. Her parents are based in Angola but they have homes in both countries. To put it simply, she is spoilt. Her parents are ridiculously wealthy and money does not mean much to her.

Continue reading after the cut


One day on the bus she said “I feel so common…like a peasant” because she’s use to driving her dad’s Range Rover in Angola and looking down on people.

As it happens I started reading a book - Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles and when I got to the chapter on Angola I was truly shocked. Angola is even more corrupt than Nigeria. Something like 4% of the country have the oil wealth and the government is a fellowship that cycles power in between themselves.

I asked her what she thought about this, I asked her if she thought the people would rise up and protest, she said “the people are well controlled”.

It tainted my view of her. Is this the price of knowledge? Now I know that her parents are part of that African Elite raping Africa. The money that this girl spends on her education, on her Louis Vuitton bags and Prada shoes could build and maintain a school in Luanda. She goes on trips whenever she wants, she shops with her dad’s credit card, her clothes can’t fit into her wardrobe.

She’s a lovely girl though, approachable and funny but I can’t look at her the same way. She’s comfortable in the knowledge that her parents are elite and she’s rich and richer than the people even here in England. She’s proud of it. These are the African Elite that I despise. Because she doesn’t want to work in Angola, she doesn’t want to contribute to Africa, she wants the European lifestyle.

Another example- In my hall are a couple of Nigerians from Lagos, Kano and Abuja. These boys are wealthy. Filthy rich.

It might be wrong for me to assume that the wealth is not legit but it’s strange that they’ve never said what their parents do.

One particular boy went out and bought a £1,000 speakers and then went out to buy a 3D TV for his STUDENT accommodation. He buys the latest PS3 games on a whim. When he goes out clubbing, he buys bottles of Ciroc, Hennessy, Grey Goose - not the common’s man drink.

I’m not sure if it’s envy or jealousy on my part and God forgive me if it is but doesn’t that make your blood boil? I’m meeting the offspring of corrupt politicians and unscrupulous businessmen. I’m meeting the children that would probably end up in power, children who have no interest in Africa - only the latest designer jewellery, shoes and bags.

They spend money so frivolously, worse than the British elite, money that isn’t theirs. To be fair, it would be worse if these kids were not bright. They are smart academically, they do very well in their exams. Meanwhile the state of the Nigerian education system is in disarray.

As a British African, I find it difficult not to resent them. I’m not sure that’s the right way to feel.
Is this the price of knowledge?

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I came across this post on Tumblr written by a guy called sonofdust. It really got my attention and will like to share it here with my readers. Kindly drop your suggestions/view after reading.