Latjor
you are right generalities can lead to confusion at times .
I suggested a business Forum or subject but have not heard anything from the
GLC. I already have many input from some who are not interested in politics but
want to participate in the commercial areas. Sister Aminata( brother hamza's
wife and Captain Salllah's daughter) is willing to coordinate this with me . Can
you accommodate us?
Habib
latjor ndow wrote:
> 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
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
> Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
