Tragedies of the African diaspora

On 19 July 2010, shockwave news of the horrible tragedy of a Sierra Leonean couple spread like wild bush fire during a severe harmattan season, especially among the Sierra Leonean community in the United States. 52 year-old Godfrey Manley-Spaine, aka Lord Bongo Johnson, a popular comedian and member of The Professionals (a drama group born in Freetown, Sierra Leone) and his 46 year-old girlfriend Claudia Johnson, a nurse, have been living together for 17 years in Mesquite, Dallas, Texas. The police and coroner’s report confirmed that Godfrey killed his girlfriend, inflicting trauma on her by strangulation. He eventually committed suicide by hanging himself.

A domestic violence case was earlier filed against him resulting in a restraining order banning him from visiting or living in the same house with Claudia, his heart-throb. Sparks of a love-hate triangle cannot be completely divorced as one of the root causes of the tragedy. Finally, Claudia made up her mind to terminate the toxic relationship by moving on with her life with someone else more compatible, who would eventually lead her to the altar. But her estranged partner thought otherwise.

Manley-Spaine, who was unemployed, was selfishly unwilling to accept his fate. Losing his job and drowning in the dead sea of economic limbo, and the stress of having to secure his own place of abode were gigantic challenges he couldn’t grapple with headlong. He said, ‘No one else will get her if I couldn’t.’ He would later settle down for the point of no return. His blurred thinking became the risk factor. People in a mind like his could become dangerous and would probably end up killing their victims, and that’s exactly what he did. It was a 911 call from a concerned compatriot, who had not seen the emotionally drained couple the whole day of Sunday 19 July, that forced police to break into the house, discovering the bodies of the estranged couple with blood spattered around the house – a bloody theatre – where a fight took place leading to their dramatic and violent deaths.

The mighty Dallas economy is sputtering, with the city at risk of economic crisis. It’s losing its position as the region’s economic core, ranking closer to distressed Detroit and Philadelphia than its bustling peers to the south-west. The current economic downturn and the scenario of a prolonged economic malaise are taking a devastating toll on many minority families. In a situation where there’s destitution and hopelessness, doom and gloom often win a free ride.

Godfrey and Claudia were nursing deep emotional wounds – probably chronically bleeding emotionally and psychologically. Some thought they were a sweet happy couple from a distance. But the truth is their relationship had dangerously hit rock bottom. Verbal abuse reigned in an atmosphere of domestic violence taking centre stage. They had two adorable children, Godfrey Jr, 15, and 7 year-old Elizabeth. The well-mannered and disciplined kids were luckily away visiting family when the tragedy occurred.
The enigma of domestic violence that invariably results in tragedy is going viral, infecting the African community both at home and abroad. Just a few weeks ago, a Nigerian pharmacist battered his middle-aged wife in cold blood with a baseball bat in Tampa, Florida. After he killed her he asked neighbours to call 911, telling them that she was having a heart attack when in reality that was simply a deceptive ploy for him to escape police scrutiny and arrest. But he was later arrested and he is now in police custody. Part of their problem started over an argument on finance and the high cost of living in America.

Also in rapid and dramatic succession, a Ghanaian fatally stabbed his 28 year-old fiancée in Boston, Massachusetts. He then went on to dismember her dead body, hiding the severed body parts in garbage bags down in his basement in an attempt to destroy core evidence.

Concerned Africans are deeply worried that all is not well within the African community. Are Africans losing out on their community-based cultural and spiritual values in pursuit of the American dream that is fast becoming a myth and nightmare rather than a reality for many? Trying to cope with Western challenges and values on a daily basis could be an uphill climb for most African immigrants, especially the new arrivals. Africans are a tenacious people who need to form a working support group to help address these invasive cancers. Are we not entrusted to be our brother’s keeper? Connected, integrated and responsive to the needs of our brothers and sisters living in a global community? But charity begins at home. What is wrong with our African brothers, who claim to love and cherish their African sisters until death? But as soon as some are abroad it becomes very easy for them to abandon the African culture. This love-hate relationship must be arrested before it runs amok and insanely out of control. Tapping brain power is smarter than resorting to the use of brawn to assault physically indefensible women. The million dollar question on the front burner is: ‘You… and me, and me… and you, and me… and you, have we all changed our lives yet?’ Time is ticking as fast as a time bomb. Taking action now is better than waiting until it is too late.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Roland Bankole Marke © 2010
* The Professionals, of which the deceased comedian was a respectable member, gave an official statement on Lord Bongo Johnson’s death on 21 July in Washington, DC: ‘The members of The Professionals are in utter disbelief and deeply saddened by the turn of events as it relates to our brother Godfrey Manley-Spaine (aka Lord Bongo). The details of this tragedy in no way align with the childhood friend and brother that we knew for over twenty years. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Haggerty and Anthony Families and the children.’
* The Professionals have established a Trust Fund for the children. For more information on making donations to the trust fund and/or burial please contact Donald Nat-George (Dandogo) on (214) 606-1056 or by email: Marke’s short stories and poetry have been anthologised online.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.