Development Boy

Satire is a way of using humor to show that someone or something is foolish and counter-productive.  It can show the weaknesses or shortcomings of a person, government or society. Satire often uses irony and sarcasm to expose and discredit the targeted folly.

Satirists in literature and pop-culture have included Jonathan Swift, Rudyard Kipling, Mark Twain and Will Rogers. Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden” is an exposé of institutionalized imperialism characterized by Eurocentric racism and Western aspirations to dominate the developing world.

Take up the White Man’s burden, The savage wars of peace–
Fill full the mouth of Famine And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hopes to nought.

The world of development and foreign aid has attracted critics and satirists. Author Dambisa Moyo and economist William Easterly have been leading critics of the current global system of foreign aid to the developing world. Moyo’s “Dead Aid” and Easterly’s “The White Man’s Burden” boldly confront politicians and celebrities who have called for increasing aid to the developing world by demonstrating that these policies have caused many world leaders to abandon national responsibilities to their citizens, increased the temptation for corruption, hindered the development of an economic middle-class and altered the purpose of democratic elections in parts of the world. The failure of aid to “trickle down” to the grassroots level has resulted in the dramatic increase of well-intentioned charities and philanthropic organizations who act as surrogate providers of vital services, including healthcare and education. They are not criticizing emergency relief aid that is necessary after natural disasters or unexpected circumstances. They also exclude the type of compassionate partnerships that connect people to local stakeholders in struggling communities.

“Development Boy” is a brilliant parody of development idealists and institutional do-gooders. It was created by School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) students at Columbia University. Daniel Cohn is currently pursuing a Master of International Affairs at SIPA.  He is a development professional, poet, and musician from Vermont. His academic and professional background has focused on West African and Chinese development.

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Take me on a trip I’d like to go someday.
Take me to Malawi, I’d love to see Guinea.
I really want to make a difference with you.
You’ll be my development boy.

“Development Boy” is a parody of “American Boy” by Estelle featuring Kanye West.