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It takes an African to rule Africa—the colonial powers never truly understood that. However much the rest of us study Africa, however deep our sympathy, we will remain outsiders.

Raymond offers this proclamation in Chapter 8 in the middle of a long discourse directed toward guests at Yvette’s party. In his speech, Raymond makes an implicit claim about the role he, a European, has played and continues to play in shaping the future of this new African nation. He starts by recounting the crucial role he played as a mentor to the President, in whose life he intervened at a decisive moment. Ever since, Raymond has enjoyed a special relationship of influence with the President. Hence, when he goes on to praise the politician and all he has done to unite the country, Raymond also implicitly congratulates himself for his contribution to the President’s success. Raymond also discusses his scholarly work, a grand narrative history of the unnamed African country. Although Raymond foregrounds the many struggles he’s faced while composing his history, it is clear that he strives for greatness. Furthermore, if his work proves successful, then his reputation as a scholar will forever be linked to the first monumental piece of scholarship to prove Africa’s world-historical importance. In other words, he will be responsible for making African history internationally relevant.

Yet, as seen in this quotation, Raymond also clearly recognizes that his influence and reputation have limits. According to him, the only person who can properly run an African country is an African. This claim expresses a painful ambivalence about the value of his personal and professional commitments. In spite of the bold clarity of this pronouncement, the rest of his speech suggests that he still desperately wants to see himself as an exception to the rule. He doesn’t want to be misunderstood as an irrelevant holdover from a bygone era. Yet he knows he developed his reputation as an expert in African history through his involvement with a colonial university. Furthermore, it was within the power dynamics of the colonial university that Raymond became the future President’s mentor. Raymond owes his position in Africa to European colonialism, yet he still understands his special relationship with the President as an exemption that justifies his continued presence and influence. In short, the boldness of his claim actually conceals a secret desire to retain his old influence and power.

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