Haruna:
Sometimes sweeping statements, rhetorical questions, and generalities can
often lead to confusion.
You began you first posting by expressing your amazement at the number of
Gambians with terminal degrees and so forth, then posed this question: "But
what comes to my mind is what are the contributions
of these intellectuals towards the politico-socio-economic development
of the country and it's citizery during the past thirty years?"
You then followed this with the following question:
"To what extent would this conference have an impact to the ordinary Gambian
living in the rural areas like Demba Kunda or Basse?"
Perhaps I read too much into your questions. If that is so then my
apologies. On the other hand, my response to you was directed to the larger
G-L audience to whom your statements were also directed. I do not know how
long you have been on the list, but if you have been around for at least the
past month or two, you should have gleaned the often often ignorant
statements being made on this matter. So I chose your piece to respond to
the larger group since it had the signature of the type of mentality that
permeates our larger community outside of cyber-space also.
I certainly understood your use of 'Demba Kunda and Basse' as a metaphor,
which is why I chose to, in turn, play with it. (Saul please note.)
To my question: "Is it wrong to be an intellectual?" You Answer:
>NO, but... It is wrong to be an intellectual if someone who has trained
>herself or himself in one or more disciplines and failed to utilizes
>her/his skills to addressing the myriad of "politico-socio-economic" issues
>attendant to humanity, especially where he or she hailed from."
In the interest of accuracy, can you sight an example that will back your
statement? i.e. an intellectual (Gambian) who fits the bill? If not then we
would be engaging in mere speculation and scenario building not rooted in
reality.
You know, there is a general misconception that if an intellectual is not
directly involved in the political process then he/she must be living in
some intellectual wasteland. Hence the names of Halifa and Sidia always come
up as the shining examples of what an intellectual ought to be like.
Intellectuals who become involved in the political process GENERALLY have a
background in the Social Sciences. So their sphere of activity will perforce
be in areas such as politics, economics, and so on. Further, the
intellectual-turned-politician plays a dual role, one rooted in research and
publication, the other based on popularity. Politicians have a vested
interest in becoming popular. How else can they hope to win elections? Hence
they become better known than their counter-parts.
Other intellectuals whose background is in the Humanities for example, such
as Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and so on, function differently. A scholar on
African Cinema and Literature, such as Professor Mbye Cham (since you ask me
for names, something I was reluctant to do earlier), a leading expert on
this subject and contributing significantly in this field will not function
the same way the politician-scholar does. He is not in the busy of winning
votes! Note that I am in no way demeaning the politician-scholar. My point
is simply that there are more colors in the rainbow than one.
How then do the works of scholars such as Mbye Cham get to the general
public? I would think through conferences, symposia, publication in
magazines, etc... This obviously requires an organizational approach, hence
such bodies as the Gambia Leadership Conference.
My personal view though is that the reason why so many Gambians carry with
them this mentality is because there has not been a well structured and
effective medium yet whereby the general Gambian public can have easy access
to the works and activities of the intellectuals. The consequence being the
continued perpetuation of the myth of their lack of contribution to the
"politico-socio-economic" issues of the day. But it is coming soon!
For Joe and others, please find the conference program below:
THE GAMBIA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE PRESENTS …
THEME: THE GAMBIA: CHALLENGES IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Plenary
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Dr. Sulayman Nyang
Department of African Studies, Howard University,
Washington DC
(Topic to be announced)
Session I Politics and Governance
Speaker 1: Dr. Abdoulie Saine
Professor of Political Science - Miami University of
Ohio
"It is Time to Heal: Toward Truth Telling, National
Reconciliation and Justice in The Gambia."
Speaker 2: Dr. Amadou Janneh
Professor of Political Science - University of
Tennessee
"Recent developments in the Senegambian sub-region
and their potential impact on the political landscape"
Session II Literature, Culture and Education
Speaker 1: Dr. Tijan Sallah
Economist - World Bank, Washington DC
"The Old and New African Poetry & the Gambia's role
in It;"
Speaker 2: Dr. Sukai Prom-Jackson
Education Specialist - World Bank, Washington DC
"Linkages: The intellectuals abroad and the University
of The Gambia"
Session III: Health and Gender Issues
Speaker 1: Veronica P.S. Njie, RN, MSN
Assistant Professor - Baltimore Community County
College
"The Continuing Fight Against HIV/AIDS"
Speaker 2: Ylva Hernlund
Ph.D Student - Department of Anthropology,
University of Washington, Seattle WA
"Ritual Negotiations and Cultural Compromise: An
Alternative Initiation in the Gambia"
Other participants will include: Dr. Mbye Cham, Dr. Muhammadou Kah, Karamba
Touray, Kaba Joof, Latjor Ndow.
DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, 2000
TIME: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
PLACE: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AUDITORIUM
2ND FLOOR
WASHINGTON DC
CONTACT: TEL: 301-593-5844
______________________________________________________
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