The popular American sports network, ESPN, is currently running a short documentary on the Italian football phenom, Mario Balotelli. Acccording to the documentary, Mario was born of Ghanaian immigrant parents who gave him up for adoption when he was two years old. When he grew into a football phenom Ghana asked him to play for Ghana because they thought he was Ghanaian but he said "no". His reason for saying "no" is that having grown up in Italy, he did not know Ghana or Africa and so it did not make sense for him to play for Ghana. Thus, he decided to play for Italy when Italy came calling. However, even though I am not a psychologist, I would like to venture one psychological reason for why Mario said "no" to Ghana: he felt that Ghana had rejected him in the first place. His parents who gave him up for adoption represent Ghana and in fact Africa. Many Africans who are born abroad or whose parents took them abroad but who still maintain good relationship with their parents often play for their parents' home countries when they are asked to do so. However, those who are not in good terms with their parents often do not do so - they often experience a sense of betrayal and so reject their parents and their parents' home countries. Such is the case with Mario.
Mario's case is a case of literal adoption but it could also be read to stand for a broader phenomenon - Africa's giving up of many of its children to be raised by the West. These people cannot have a heart for Africa if they feel Africa does not care about them.
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