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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