“AFRICAN TIME”: Who invented this Phrase?

Time is defined as a period considered as a resource under your control and sufficient to accomplish something.
I want to believe without any iota of doubt that at one instance or the other, you have heard someone mention this phrase “African Time”. Personally I have heard it countless times. In fact, just yesterday, someone sent me a message inviting me for a musical concert which was scheduled to hold at 2:30pm and she ended the message with “no African time please”. This; added to the countless incidences where I have heard people emphasize the No-African-time warning got me thinking: who actually invented this phrase? And why was Africa used to qualify it. Why not American time or European time?

The answer is not farfetched as you will soon find out for yourself.

Humanity; over time has been guided by principles. Principles which dictate their way of life. In fact, these principles are what set some individuals apart from other ones.

In the same vein, the “black man” over the years have often undermined the relevance of time to his own detriment. How so? Look at our technological advancement in “comparism” with the white man. Can you spot any difference? Time and its prudent management is what actually created that difference.

“You do not have all the time in the world”. Am sure you might have heard that before too. Time management whether to a white man or a black man has the same benefit or consequences when utilized or undermined respectively. For instance: waking up and refusing to go about your day’s activities will not halt time by one second, in the same vein, another person has; or thinks he has so much time in the world while another is seeking just 24 more hours to change his world. That is the value and relevance they have found in it.

It is a common scene in this part of our world that occasions scheduled for a particular time usually kick start hours after the scheduled time due to sheer negligence to time.
Our seemingly lackadaisical attitude towards time must have given the first man who took time to observe such a behavior the impression that Africans do not have regard for time yet they have no control over it. We think we should be the ones controlling it yet the opposite happens. You don’t dictate when dawn or dusk should come, when rain, or summer should set in, when to get sick or ultimately when to die. Once your time is up, you’re done. What an irony.

Who knows; maybe it has a contributing effect as to why we are still where we are economically. Maybe shouldn’t have been the world. Am sure it does have its effects as to where you are today. You either have been managing it prudently or carelessly.

I might never get to find out who qualified time this way as it affects us but I am sure to correct the notion that “all Africans have no regard for time”. Most importantly, time cannot be altered for the benefit of any individual that is why 24 hours will not fall by one second for your sake.
Those who have regard for time are always on top of their “games” (ask Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga what it means when they lose a minute of their time unaccounted for) and would not allow anyone waste their precious resource for whatever reason. After all “time is money”.

Africans who have regard for time will not wait for 10am before setting out for an event scheduled at 10am. A lecturer or office executive will not wait for 8am before heading to work. (Ignorance is what makes some people call this kind “wicked”.) So you can see that in as much as the “African time” time mentality hold meaning in some lives, it is not all inclusive and has its effects only on those who are yet to find their purpose in life because those who have done so are actively representing their works of life the best way they can.

Our prudent management of time goes a long way in determining who we are so it is high time we shake off the shackles of the presumed negligence of time so “unknown” individual melted on us and make every second of our African life count for something meaningful.
Been fulfilled or unfulfilled is determinant on how well you managed your 24hrs daily which cumulated into your entire life. Africans are hardworking and industrious. Do not ruin our reputation with your cold attitude towards time. Make it count.

Your headline caught my attention but the post is soo lengthy Argh!! Very discouraging you know

Exjoker:
Your headline caught my attention but the post is soo lengthy Argh!! Very discouraging you know

I think its worth reading it. Am sure you won't regret it.

white racists ,your article is only excusing their racism

there are punctual Africans and there are european-westerners-white who have no respect for time

We Africans have problem with time management and this has kept us in the current state we are, in terms of technology, we are far from the western world, and before we can reach to their current state, that will be in the next 10 decades.

Cos y'all don't ever take anything serious.

You arrive at a party slated for 1pm and you only see the technician doing mic check 1.2

.. we re Africans and Africans we will always be, no doubt about that. na like this we go de de unless cars begins to have white tyres

Most Africans never take anything serious if the time for a program is to start by 12pm about 80% of them won't start coming until 2pm.

We came and met it..... if you ask me, na who I go ask?

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I dey come make I ask Google sharpaly

AM I SUPPOSE TO READ ALL THAT AND AND SAVE DEM IN MY BRAIN ?































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CAMNEWTON4PRES:
white racists ,your article is only excusing their racism

there are punctual Africans and there are european-westerners-white who have no respect for time

Why atrributing lateness or disregard for time as an african problem?

Its a trait found everywhere irrespective of race..

This land is not for sale,beware of 419 especially oga seun and his army of moderators

Its not perculiar to africans alone pls

Poor time management is a general problem everywhere in the world..

If its you, then its in you.. .

just passing by. can someone narrate the epistle cause its too long.

Ok

70 percent of Africans are not time conscious...FPT

Google Pls!! am in d church

See question

.

Jst like our family meetin yesterday.. Scheduled to satrt by 1 & most pple are nt evn around by 2.
Smh

I don't know.



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Na African something

So long an article even for an obvious topic!

masonkz:
Cos y'all don't ever take anything serious.

You arrive at a party slated for 1pm and you only see the DJ doing Mike Check 1.2

Lol

So true. Even the celebrant won't be found.

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Youngzedd:
We Africans have problem with time management and this has kept us in the current state we are, in terms of technology, we are far from the western world, and before we can reach to their current state, that will be in the next 10 decades.

wat u saying?

One of the numerous reasons why Africans will continue lagging behind in every thing.

Must be Nigerians. Only undisciplined person will even talk about such thing as ''African time''.

Odunharry:

wat u saying?

Nothing can be known.

Its soo terrible in Nigeria, I'm really trying to fight it myself. There was a time I went for an academic program slated for 4pm, I was there by 3:30 and no one else got there till 6pm. I was very mad.