How The Queen Remade The Commonwealth Of Nations From The Empire Of The Past

Following the Queen’s death on September 8, many people from countries that are part of the Commonwealth, and in which the British slave trade has particularly been prominent, called for reparations to be made. Others accused the late Queen of living her life without confronting the pains caused by her people or seeking to make amends for them.

A Nigerian professor living in the US, Uju Anya, made scathing comments about the 96-year-old’s “peaceful” death, wishing it’d have been as painful as possible. She was reprimanded for her comments by many around the world, including Jeff Bezos and other Nigerians. As the dust of the “reparations’ narrative” begins to settle, is it exactly justified to slam the Commonwealth, even though it now represents equality?

The Queen’s Commonwealth Provides An Equal Ground For Scores Of Individual Nations

In 1953, at the age of 25, Elizabeth was officially crowned the Queen of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth realms. The Commonwealth realms are the overseas territories that still retain the crown as the head of state. Even though it’s often confused with the Commonwealth of Nations, they are two separate things.

The Commonwealth realms’ head of state is the British Monarch, but the Commonwealth of Nations can vote for who they want as their leader. In 2018, it was decided that the role should pass to King Charles, after the death of his mother.

Whilst the Commonwealth Realms, at the moment, only consists of 14 individual nations (and could possibly lose more in the coming days), the Commonwealth of Nations boasts of some 80 countries, and growing.

After Rwanda became the first majority French-speaking country to join the Commonwealth, Gabon began to consider the possibilities.

“As a small nation we sought to broaden our country’s horizons for our citizens through closer association with nations of the English-speaking world. We saw the opportunities the Commonwealth could bring for increased trade, greater investment, enhanced educational advancement for our young people, and much more,” Gabon’s president Ali Ondimba said in a statement.

Gabon’s President On The Contributions Of The Queen To the Commonwealth

The Queen didn’t only spend 70 years of her life dedicated to the service of her people, she also worked hard to improve race relations and bring everyone, regardless of color, background and religion, together.

Speaking on the Queen’s “direct involvement” with the Commonwealth’s “member governments and leaders”, he acknowledged “that while it was never political, at critical times it has been geopolitical.”

He added: “From her infamous dance (and anti-racist statement) with Ghanian president Kwame Nkrumah in 1961, to her determination for the Commonwealth to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa, to her brokering of a rapprochement between the leaders of neighbouring Uganda and Kenya – she repeatedly used her ‘soft power of persuasion’ to unite peoples and nations and challenge division and hatred.”

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