OMar and AlanMbooj,

It is really good to have different aspects on this useful debate. I agree
with you that we can go home with our Western education and work in the
Gambian contexts. It is just a matter of facing up to the realities. BUt as
Alanmbooj said it how many of the interllectuals can face up to the
challenge and survive? This does not stop us from face up to the challenge
as we own it to the country and the continent. Maybe we have to device
strategies and mechanism of dealing with these problems.
I  work both in the UK as well as in Africa and I don't
have a problem as some one with an Western education. THis even reminds me
that the education we do have at home is also a western, colonial education.
Reading your posting i asked my self what is the difference between the two.



The Struggle Continues!!!
Ndey Jobarteh

-----Original Message-----
From: Omar E. Njie <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 30 July 1999 15:42
Subject: Re: The African Intellectual


>Ladies and Gentlemen,
>
>Let me first commend the brother who first brought up this interesting
>debate and well as Mambuna, Ndey, and all who contributed to it.
>
>The fact that ALL Gambians (both at home and outside) have a duty to
>contribute towards national development is a constant.  If we don't, no one
>will do it for us.  Like Mambuna argued, we are all a part of the problem.
>
>I however understand that all of us do not have to be at home to contribute
>to Gambia's development.  Dr. Sulayman Nyang, as a respected scholar at
>Howard is probably in a better position (directly or indirectly) to
>influence US foreign policy (say, through the Congressional Black Caucus).
>Dr. Tijan Sallah, through his work with the World Bank may have the ability
>(directly or indirectly) to influence/facilitate favorable fiscal
>transactions between the Bank and The Gambia.  These gentlemen may not be
>able to do this if they were in The Gambia.
>
>As to the worthiness of Western education, may I remind folks that we are
>now living in a global economy.  Whether we like it or not, we have to deal
>with different folks from different nations and cultural backgrounds in the
>process of national development.  This is where our western education will
>come real handy!  Besides, can't we go home with our western education and
>work within a Gambian context?
>
>Regards to all,
>Omar E. Njie
>
>
>>From: Ndey Jobarteh <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: The African Intellectual
>>Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 00:57:42 +0100
>>
>>Ous,
>>
>>I think this sums up the debate on the African Interllectuals or shall i
>>say
>>move it to a different dimension.  We cannot just sit down and say the
>>interllectuals are solely responsilbe for the situation in Africa. Every
>>African a what level is responsilbe to the situation in Africa and don't
>>forget it is not only the interllectuals who cast their votes.  We are all
>>custodians of our societies and what i liked more in your peice is the
>>analogy you give on the type of education we received. Maybe Saul and
>>Mambuna should have looked at what makes the interllectuals what they
>>believe them to be starting from themselves. Looking at the type of
>>education could be a good start
>>
>>I  believe what made the debate with Saul out of touch was that he was
>>using
>>too much rethorics he did not understand and was not willing to
understand.
>>It is like when i heard an MP labelling the Gambian youths as lazy. I said
>>to myself i must talk to that guy and make sure I understand what he meant
>>by that. Of course after some confrontations we came to an agreement that,
>>it is not the case this is a rethoric used by the present regime without a
>>thorough understanding of the Gambian Youths.
>>
>>I think it is even a crime to say that once one is in Europe or the West
>>one
>>should shut up, I believe that is a weakness, it is also a lack of courage
>>to face up to criticism and challenging debate. It is also wrong to
assumed
>>that everyone in the West is enjoying and happily living in the West. One
>>thing we have to look at also is how to get the interllectuals working
>>effectively inside and outside the country with a agenda to effect change
>>at
>>home.
>>
>>The Struggle Continues!!!
>>Ndey Jobarteh
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: 29 July 1999 08:17
>>Subject: The African Intellectual
>>
>>
>> >I read the piece my brother Saul Bajo talked about the intellectuals
with
>>so
>> >much interest. The getting on one "another's throat" as Uncle Jay might
>>call
>> >it was of interest. Bamba Lie, Tenn, Mambuna, Scattred and a lot more
>>added
>> >light to it which really made iteven more interesting. In fact it made
me
>> >agree with the gentleman who suggested to the L-managers to have a bank
>>of
>> >some pieces on the L- for future references.
>> >Those of us who might not be intellectuals seems to blame them for not
>>coming
>> >to our rescue when we think we needed them the most. Yes, that might
>>sound
>> >selfish, but it is arguably human to be. It is always easier to blame
>>someone
>> >else for whatever. This is because we feel that we are in a situation(s)
>> >where their services are needed. We agreed and kind of in denial that we
>>need
>> >them for we think that they could bring some new ideas and very valuable
>> >skills towards development which we might not be able to get. The
>> >construction of our envision Africa full of intellectuals with
Africanise
>> >ideas is just a fantasy.
>> >When we talk of intellectuals, we measure them by not what they do or
can
>>do
>> >for us, but by Western University standards using Western ideals. We
tend
>>to
>> >forget that they are products of the Western curriculum and it does not
>> >matter where they studied. They might have graduated from African
>> >Universities, but their intelligence are typical foreign (Western)
>>models.
>> >Being an Intellectual in Africa and being an African Intellectual are
two
>> >different persons. An Intellectual who cannot relate him/herself to our
>> >problems is a danger to the society and therefore those kinds are better
>>off
>> >staying outside. These are the ones whose background on African affairs
>>are
>> >rooted from what they are able to hear and read from books written by
>>those
>> >like them. And those books are also edited and published by the same
>>Western
>> >Institutions.
>> >However, blaming these intellectuals for what they came into being
>> >UN-intellectually unknowing, makes me feel guilty. Our societies have
>>groomed
>> >these people not to be accepted by us when they return. We view them as
>>if
>> >they are trying to impose their Western ideas on us and would not give
>>them
>> >the chance to give their opinions. Our governments are equally guilty of
>>not
>> >being able to create a flourishable atmosphere. They are seen as threats
>>if
>> >they disagree on principles and if they have different ideals, they are
>> >viewed as reactionaries. Therefore, some of the good ones who feared not
>>to
>> >take a stand as true intellectuals end up imposing self exile.
>> >Of course Africa needs all her people, but our leaders are not prepared
>>to
>> >accept that as a reality.
>> >African intellectuals no doubt owes Africa a lot. Not only being side
>> >commentators will suffice, but there has to be an audience receptive to
>>new
>> >ideas and not afraid of change. African governments has to improve their
>> >relationship with her intellectuals on the bases of need and not wants.
>>The
>> >whole of Africa might have big lettered titles after our names, but
until
>>we
>> >are ready to measure ourselves with the future and not the past, we are
>> >doomed to fail. The past should just be a lesson for us to search for
>>more
>> >solutions to our problems.
>> >All that we asks of our intellectuals is commitment. It is not going to
>>be
>>an
>> >easy transition from a Western student to an African leader. they have
to
>>be
>> >ready to experiment their ideals back home. Yes, it is true that a lot
of
>> >those who tried to experiment before never went okay, but I am sure they
>> >would agree with me that there is no place like home. Yes, taking stands
>>on
>> >issues has always put a lot of us in trouble, but no intellectual should
>>be
>> >afraid of that. In fact that is what makes one an intellectual. I hope
>>Ebrima
>> >Ceesay puts that into consideration when he starts to work on his
>>Directory.
>> >If any one fails to take stand for whatever reasons, they are bound to
be
>>on
>> >the wrong side of history.
>> >I apologize if I bore anyone with my composition. I am trying to improve
>>on
>> >it.
>> >
>> >Ousman Bojang.
>> >
>>
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