Civilisation?

I've long wanted to sample the goodies at this Nigerian restaurant near my new flat, and there was a good opportunity during the parents' visit. I will be returning for more goat meat and spicy jollof rice.

Although she was just making conversation for customers who she thought were alien to chowing down on pieces of goat, it was sad when we got chatting to the owner and she said that 'civilisation' had changed some of the culinary practices of West Africa.

That whole notion of 'civilising Africa' is incredibly damaging in its rhetoric. Who the hell is to say that what the 'West' has introduced is more civilised? Open cast mining for minerals, road building, mini skirts, shell suits and posing on Instagram are hardly the markers of true advancement.