Reality or Delusions of Grandeur?

Looking at events from the ancient days of man to those dating as recent as a few decades ago the history of man is replete with either individuals or whole communities who went to great lengths to register achievements some of which are quite rare. Some of these feats in the form of projects or activities are quite telling about what kind of results human passion and ambition can realize whether positively or negatively projected. History records many events some of which appear bizarre when viewed from the current knowledge and science perspective not only because of their magnitude and impact on society but also for the sheer fact that enormous resources, time, talent, and great human effort and skill were a key input. The result of some of these activities fails to be justified from a modern world perspective thus bringing into question the reasons as to why they were hatched altogether. The ideal answer to the many probing questions we raise as we peep into what the ancients did with themselves then and the opportunities available mainly lies with the very people of that time who together with their ruling class. We may try to project how the future generations will judge our actions in the present time and their relevance and impact on them. So, as we critic or praise what has been done and achieved by those who went before us, it is important to take cognizance of the fact that some of the activities and actions of our present society which include, projects such as space exploration, sending men to the moon and landing a rover on mars may in terms of the future generations turn out to have been of no value bearing the size of resources and human effort allocated to the same. What we justifiably glorify today may turn out to have been activities that do not add value making those in the future sit and marvel at the reasons used to advance the same. On the flip side, the benefits they may accrue from the same may give us credit for our brilliance. The nature of history within the definition of certain parameters is bound to often repeat itself and since the main factors that drive us to do what we do as human beings e.g., our cultural beliefs, absolute power, desire to leave a legacy, and on the negative side self-aggrandizement and human greed among many others, are still with the likelihood of witnessing a repeat is very high.

In the few from amongst many enlisted below the reader will have to make their conclusion on the relevance of the activity to humanity and its uniqueness. The key pointers for some are the size, the human effort applied, resource allocation, display of extravagance, the time taken over the same, and relevance to humanity then and in today’s terms. Some of them just simply serve to expose what human nature portends when an individual possesses absolute power granted sufficient resources. It also exposes the unseen cravings of man, the innate that can be emboldened to aggressively pursue ideals that are unique more so for the ruling class. Remarkable feats left out here because of space and time are the great pyramids of Giza and the Biblical Tower of Babel and its final ending.

One remarkable physical structure built by man is the Great Wall of China. Reportedly built over a period stretching several centuries, the wall with a length of over 21,000 Km is currently a big tourist attraction. Initiated for security purposes to act as a deterrent from frequent attacks from their hostile northern neighbors of that time, one sees great patience, heavy human sacrifice enormous resource allocation in the push by the rulers of the time to secure their land. Whether it fully served the intended purpose at the time, is a question for those who lived then to answer. However, history is replete with kingdoms of those times preferring to build walls around their cities to ward off enemy attacks. Even the great Roman Empire had emperors who ordered the building of walls around their empires for security reasons however long in regions where they had very hostile neighbors and frequent attacks. Building experts see this as a real architectural masterpiece of the time that reveals a lot about the Chinese people of that time and the level of knowledge in construction technology of that time and the high level of influence rulers had over their people at that time.

There was a ruler by the name of Herod in Judea of present-day Israel. He was well known for his love of putting up great buildings, the knowledge he borrowed from the Romans after visiting Rome the seat of power of the empire, and seeing the great buildings and their great architectural designs. Herod is reported to have been so loved by the Roman occupiers of Judea because of being a puppet but loathed by his people who viewed him as a sellout. With this knowledge, he built the Jews the third temple an architectural masterpiece that came close to what King Solomon had built as the first one. Among the many grand palaces, he built is the Massada fortress which is reported as the last standoff point for the zealots during the rebellion against the Roman empire. Under siege by the Romans for a long time, on realizing that they were losing the battle rather than be captured alive and become slaves to the advancing Roman army, here is the place at which they committed mass suicide. The fort still stands there today in ruins as a symbol of Herod`s love for grand projects.

Shifting the focus to Africa a few decades ago, rulers and kings have also left behind legacies from some of their unique activities and projects that amaze. Since this is not a very long time ago the details have been captured with greater accuracy thus harbor higher levels of credibility. Off the Tanzania mainland on the Zanzibar archipelago, lies in ruins a palace that once belonged to a ruler who had the title of Sultan. Quite famous and known by the name Sayyid Barghash, he is reported to have put up this great palace. Built as one of his official residences, it hosted not less than 80 concubines of different nationalities. These were identified by his appointed scouts/trade merchants from Africa and beyond and brought down to the Island either as slaves or by consent. The building now lying in ruins bears the marks of another architectural masterpiece of the time. From the remains, one can see some of the well-done bathrooms, 12 toilets, and a sauna, and more specifically an open bathing area. The tour guides at the facility tell us that this was used by the Sultan as some sort of luxury resort or harem where he spent his holidays when he needed privacy away from the public. The ruler is reported to have had this strange habit of sitting on the balcony to look/drool as the concubines took turns to bathe in groups at his command. Thereafter he would pick which one to sleep with. His official wife(s) lived in other palaces.

Further to the west in the 1970s in the DRC Congo then known as Zaire now renamed DRC Congo, the country had a president by the name of Mobutu Sesseko. It is recorded that he used close to USD 400 million to build himself a private palace in Gbadolite his hometown. The palace boasted of the best Italian marble finishes and the finest artwork. His bedroom consisted of a bed that came to the surface automatically by an electric switch. All finishes were of the world’s finest. He ordered the construction of an airport in the small town with a runway long enough to land the famous Concorde. The palace built in the thick Congo forest was abandoned after his ouster and now in ruins, as nature is reclaiming back its rightful place. Many questions have been asked as to what could have become of Mobutu a well-educated former journalist who led a country well endowed with resources and failed to help make it one of the richest not only in Africa but also in the existing third world.

In the Ivory Coast built in the administrative capital of Yamoussoukro stands the world’s biggest church construction. The church built by the late Houphouet Boigny is christened “ The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace with the capacity to hold over 300,000 worshippers at one time though is attended by a handful of faithful. Probably built before its time it’s a grand structure rivaling the St. Peters Basilica in Rome. Speculation remains rife as to why the late founding President of the country built it then pleaded with the reluctant Vatican to take up ownership of the same. Maybe a gift from him to God.

In the then poor Central African there arose a leader by the name Jean-Bedel Bokassa who ruled the impoverished country in the 1970s. He was so fascinated by the exploits of Napoleon Bonaparte eventually coronating himself as the emperor while being supported by France. His coronation was held at a grand ceremony that costed the equivalent to the country’s annual budget. The French his key ally and supporters later on in the day got so embarrassed by him that they decided to assist in the efforts to end his rule. They sent in commandos to support efforts to overthrow his government a plan successfully executed while he was away in Libya.

History has other events across the world which space may not allow one to keep all the details. Time will tell what our current generation will have come up with.

THE BANJAN 2021