Muhammad Ali and Africa, a case of love at first sight

Pound for pound the greatest boxer who ever lived, a champion inside the ring and a hero to millions outside of it, Muhammad Ali, who succumbed to respiratory complications on Saturday, inspired affection wherever he went. In Africa, he occupied a space somewhere between “adopted son” and “ambassador at large”.

It’s impossible to exaggerate the larger than life figure that Ali is in Africa and how easily he won hearts on the continent, even among those who could not have been alive when he bestrode the world of boxing like a colossus. Unlike in today’s social media age where do-nothing celebrities seem to crawl from every nook and crevice, Ali managed to become a household name in Africa and the world when you had to do it the hard way.

Stop the average person on the street in every city, town, village or hamlet in Africa and he or she is sure to know who Ali is. Not just that, but they could also probably rattle off a few of his quotes at the drop of a hat. “Impossible is nothing!” You can’t put a price on that kind of fame or sheer charisma.

Love at first sight

It was love at first sight too. People forget, but Ali beat George Foremen in the “Rumble in the Jungle” partly by getting in his head with a little help from the people of Kinshasa. Ali rattled the younger man by turning the people against him. He had them shouting “Ali bomaye” (often misspelt as Ali bumaye) which translates to “Ali kill him”. It didn’t help that Foreman got off the plane with a menacing German shepherd on a leash, the same breed of dog colonial policemen used to terrorise people when the Congo was ruled by Belgium.

At any rate, the people were on Ali’s side and this made Foreman furious. This anger blinded him to Ali’s tactics and contributed to one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. The victory cemented Ali’s status as a giant among giants. It’s also worth pointing out that successfully staging the biggest bout of its time was no mean feat for Africa either. Ali had won and so too had Africa.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died hrs ago, brought to Africa its first modern mega-sporting event, Kinshasa 1974 pic.twitter.com/V03Bs9nCGV

— James Hall (@hallaboutafrica) June 4, 2016

“His wins were our wins”

As news of his passing has spread, warm tributes from his fans across Africa have been pouring in. Many have been sharing their remembrances, telling the world how Ali inspired them during dark times. For example, some South Africans remember the boxing great as a source of tremendous inspiration during the apartheid era.

Growing up in Apartheid South Africa, Muhammad Ali was an icon of courage & hope. A black man taking on racist, war-mongering Empire.

— Zoobs 😷💉 (@zubairsay) June 4, 2016

Our thoughts and prayers to Muhammad Ali's family. He used to inspire us in the height of apartheid in South Africa. His wins were ours.

— Uriel (@thozix) June 4, 2016

Since his passing, many commentators have noted that Ali’s greatness transcended sports, religion, politics and race. From the reactions online, he clearly transcended nationality too since many on the continent see him more as an “African hero” than as an American.

A true son of Africa! Muhammad Ali is the greatest! RIP

— Taha (@TahaAdam_) June 4, 2016

Muhammad Ali our inspiration here in rural Africa RIP our champion

— arnold juma (@bokaarniej) June 4, 2016

RIP Muhammad Ali. You will always mean something special to me, Africa and the world. Thank you for all you did. 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/HFKfmi17Pq

— Yaya Touré (@YayaToure) June 4, 2016

https://twitter.com/OLLY_KaY/status/739014653158785024

RIP Muhammad Ali you did Africa proud and the world.

— ernest kaliminwa (@ernestkaliminw3) June 4, 2016

Ali in Africa

The boxing great visited Africa frequently in his lifetime. During his visits he was equally at home spending time with people on the street as with icons like Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah or visiting State Houses in Kenya and Egypt.

Muhammad Ali in South Africa, 1993. Both were famous boxers. 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/EAQDlX8q1e

— Mich! (@iammichiewill) June 4, 2016

Muhammad Ali, 22, and Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana, 1964. pic.twitter.com/QFJhSYUkox

— OkayAfrica (@OkayAfrica) June 4, 2016

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Legend Muhammad Ali with former President Moi at State House Nairobi back in the day… #RIPMohammadAli pic.twitter.com/bbrk0TgCNG

— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) June 4, 2016

https://twitter.com/MazMHussain/status/738963728234905600

https://twitter.com/PinkElephant73/status/739006880505303040

Muhammad Ali with Kwame Nkrumah Malcolm X & Nelson Mandela.@AbeikuSantana @mrking221 @FancyDiMaria @Asanteclickwise pic.twitter.com/zlyMIWLtkp

— M E N S A H Justice D Z I V O N (@dzivonmensah) June 4, 2016

https://twitter.com/vohandas/status/738955305439088640

Wearing Agbada , Muhammad Ali is greeted by a crowd of youngsters on a trip to Lagos, Nigeria on 01 June 1964. pic.twitter.com/E9pBAZmz7M

— Genevieve Magazine (@GenevieveMag) December 27, 2015

Muhammad Ali on a visit to Nigeria in 1964.
Credits: Amanda Okoye pic.twitter.com/VYnPOVfh6A

— BB Buzz (@thebbbuzz) June 4, 2016

We live in hyperbolic times but Ali walked the talk. Like he said, “its not bragging if you can back it up”. Our world is much poorer for his passing. He was truly the greatest.

Muhammad Ali You the best even here in our mother land Africa….KEEP FIGHTING THE RIGHT FIGHT EVEN TO THE NEXT WORLD.

— NKOMO (@KustaMkhuseli11) June 4, 2016

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