Daddt Sang
I think the traditional religion referred to here is what we know back home as the "Jalangs"
Habib
Emmanuel N'Dow wrote:
> latjor ndow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Greetings Ebrima:
> I know you have stated that you will not engage in religious issues on the
> list and that is quite alright. However, it would not be fair for you to
> have your say on this matter then quickly bring the discussion to an end
> before others have the opportunity to respond. So allow me to respond to
> your postings on the Soyinka - Mazrui issue.
>
> In your first posting which provoked a response from me, you said:
> "But the first point to note, which is an important one, is that Soyinka is
> a devout Christian and Mazrui a devout Muslim. "
>
> I suppose to further support your point you alluded to how Soyinka came to
> the defend Rushdie. If you are suggesting by this sitation the christianess
> of Soyinka, I'll have to say that I do not see it. Knowing the positions and
> works of Soyinka well should have led you to a different conclusion. An
> argument for intellectual freedom would have been more inline with Soyinka's
> position.
>
> Now, in my posting I said: "I am not sure if the fight between Soyinka and
> Mazrui can be neatly bottled into a christian vs. muslim paradigm as Ebrima
> seems to suggest." I further state: "Does Soyinka's works not utilize a
> traditional African religious (i.e. Yoruba) backdrop more so than a
> christian one?"
>
> Your response then seemed to be an over-reaction. This is what you stated:
> >What I can say to you is that your opinion is your opinion and my opinion
> >is my opinion. You do not have to agree with me. Religion is a very
> >sensitive issue and that's why I do not even want to debate the subject. I,
> >for one, will not entertain a debate on religion on the L.
> >
>
> Interesting!
>
> In a follow-up posting, not solicited since Ebrima had already stated that
> he does not want to debate:
>
> >I'll expose - or attempt to expose - the Yuroba "mafias'" hands in
> Nigeria politics, including his own hand, and ask him whether Africa needs
> leaders who believe in the superiority of one tribe to the other. To be fair
> to the Yorubas, the Nigerian Northerners who are Muslims are also guilty of
> these tribal sentiments in Nigerian politics.
> >
>
> Well, at least now you are expanding your argument to look at the Yoruba
> dimension albeit what you call the 'Yoruba "mafias"'.
>
> In you third posting, you state:
>
> >If you could recall, I did say, the other day, that Wole Soyinka is a
> >devout Christian and Ali Mazrui a devout Muslim, but my good brother
> >Latjorr Ndow held a different view.
> >
>
> So I take it the debate on religion is not closed? Anyway, if you refer back
> to my posting, I NEVER 'held a different view' on the religious practices of
> Mazrui or Soyinka! What I questioned was whether you can neatly bottle the
> debate/fight between these two Africans in a christian vs. muslim affair!
>
> Since I do not mind discussing religion, I think I will continue. I noticed
> that the prof. you called to back your case which is all your creation and
> not mine, did not actually say whether Soyinka was a christian or not,
> rather that he comes from a christian family. I observe further that she
> says; "but I understand he now uses an African religion (Yoruba) as well,
> and in fact he feels very strongly about it"..."
> Hmm...
>
> You then stated:
> >Asked further whether I was right or wrong in accusing him of having a
> >pro-Yoruba agenda/bias,..."
>
> My good friend, when did you make this accusation? Certainly not in your
> earlier postings on this subject which I was responding to.
>
> You further convey the telephone interview you say you had with another
> prof. in this manner:
> >
> >He said while Wole Soyinka's works hardly conveys his religious beliefs,
> >he, nonetheless, strongly believes and defends his religion at all times.
> >
>
> Which religion are we talking about? If you are talking about christianity
> then I will have to ask you who made the assertion which prompted you to ask
> this question?
> Further, you say:
> >according to this veteran professor, that differences
> >in religion or beliefs have indeed been ONE of the MAJOR root causes of the
> >hostility between the two scholars.
> >"But now there is more to it than just religion", the veteran professor
> >declared.
>
> I think this is what I was saying all along! (smile)
>
> I will close with your own profound words: "This is why in this 21st
> century, it is more than necessary, that we develop very critical minds
> which are capable of separating the facts from the fictions at all times,
> regardless of whether the speaker is a politician, a big name professor or a
> journalist like myself. " -
> Latjor
> Lat, Ebrima, if the argument is one is a devout christian and the other a
> devout muslim, then both cancell out each other. As I mention before, I have
> not read the "Teh-a-Teh" dispute between these two, but I rather suspect that
> Soyinka's merely coming to the aid of a former student and each of them are
> from different school of thought. If you will Ebrima would you furnish me with
> the text of these two professors dispute.
> Thanks
> Daddy Sang
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