The Western Sequence
During the film we see a sequence that is easily identifiable as a Western.
Bamako's director, Sissako, made the following comments on this scene:
'For me, it was a case of showing that cowboys aren't all white and that the West isn't solely to blame for Africa's woes. We too have a share of the blame. This is why the cowboy who shoots the "extraneous" schoolteacher is African.
Also, a large portion of the African elite is a party to the West: they've never had the courage to act in favour of changing things because each person is only looking out selfishly for their own interests. So, I saw this western sequence as a metaphor of the World Bank's or the IMF's mission – since these missions are carried out jointly by the Europeans and the Africans.'
Does this complicate or clarify your understanding of the IMF and other institutions in relation to Africa? Explain your answers.
Africa's Economic Ties in Context: the point of view of many development activists (or campaigners) from around the world -
Most African nations gained independence during the 1960s but their economic ties to richer nations have remained close. For example, many Caribbean nations export to those nations who had colonised them; other African nations have continued to export the same goods to the West in much the same fashion (i.e. cocoa, coffee, minerals, etc.).
Following on from this, the much needed loans, grants and debt relief made to them by the IMF and World Bank carry yet more economic conditions and many African governments would argue that they have no room for manoeuvre if they are to secure those much needed loans. However, others, like Sissako here in this clip, argue that they are compliant in delivering these harmful policies on their own peoples – either because they act selfishly or lack courage.
