tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.comments2023-05-23T10:59:24.522-04:00Bokamoso Leadership ForumBokamoso Leadership Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07145703919474386347noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-31813685072225204392011-04-19T10:26:28.344-04:002011-04-19T10:26:28.344-04:00Like Gcobani said, this is a great article. And li...Like Gcobani said, this is a great article. And like both of you, I do encourage African solutions to African problems- but we have to be careful that this does not become a blanket cover for everything. I know that Ian Khama has been vocal regarding this issue and many other leadership concerns across the continent, even going to the extend of inviting Quattara for a state visit, but he has not received support and part of the reason is that he is young. <br />As the theme of the blog goes, and what we are trying to achieve as a forum, as we celebrate our cultures, we must also be critical. Whilst people like to encourage us to respect our elders, they also tend to forget that we have sayings that encourage elders to listen to the youth.Bose Maposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08321122066833347604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-30994549100994742782011-04-19T02:43:03.460-04:002011-04-19T02:43:03.460-04:00Thank you Gcobani. Like you I encourage African so...Thank you Gcobani. Like you I encourage African solutions to African problems, however the continent is very limited in its application of this due to a lack of resources and a lack of political will. Addressing these two is of course a simple approach to more complex issues but would be a beneficial start. Our leaders need to find the means to not just talk the talk but walk the walk as well.Nadianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-30889646936573357892011-04-18T12:08:11.623-04:002011-04-18T12:08:11.623-04:00Thanks for this article Nadia. I will confess I ha...Thanks for this article Nadia. I will confess I have not really been following the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire so it was really enlightening to get this detailed account of the reasons for the conflict. Most interesting to me has been the failure of African states to effectively take the lead in resolving the issues in Côte d’Ivoire. I have always advocated for regional integration in Africa and ‘African Solutions to African Problems’ but situations like these sort of remind me how theoretically abstract these concepts are for our contemporary position in Africa. <br /><br />African states understandably respect the (social) construct of ‘sovereignty’ because of our history in Africa and because we better than anyone else understand how the concept can be abused in the ‘interest of peace’. But do you think the situation has to stay ‘doomed if you don’t, doomed if you do?’. What are the possibilities of an effective African Union to actually ‘enforce’ peace and stability in Africa? Know these are simplified questions to very complex issues, am just worried about where the African continent is headed is we do not start devising tactical ways to solving our own issues… But great article again! Really insightful and well written.Gcobani Qambelahttp://www.twitter.com/gcobani_qambelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-3346982347952641532011-04-14T03:45:15.181-04:002011-04-14T03:45:15.181-04:00This is an instructive piece Siphokazi not only fo...This is an instructive piece Siphokazi not only for its intellectual sophistication but also for being of analytical acuity.<br /><br />In an essay entitled The Dilemma of the Black Intellectual, Cornel West writes of black intellectuals; “The central task of … black intellectuals is to stimulate, hasten, and enable alternative perceptions and practices by dislodging prevailing discourses and powers.” I would like to challenge you Siphokazi, Nadia, Zukiswa, Bose and others, as emerging black women intellectuals, not only to dislodge the prevailing patriarchal discourses, but to mainstream the ‘peripheral’ voice of the other (the woman) in our African public discourse.<br /><br />Having observed the world economy, an Argentian economist and scholar, Raul Prebisch and his colleagues at the Economic Commission for Latin America, what was to be know as the dependencia (dependency) theory. This theory holds that, in the global economy, nothing coming from the countries of the periphery is taken seriously because they don't have the economic and political clout. These countries do not have economies of scales-they are not innovative- they use primitive ways of production. They are poor and they are not well integrated in the world economy. They are seen as fields of action rather than as active players in the global political economy. To the ‘core’ or the centre (West), the defining feature of the periphery is the lack of urgencyThembani Mbadlanyanahttp://www.yahoomail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-8596654245976619012011-04-12T14:55:52.722-04:002011-04-12T14:55:52.722-04:00So poignant madam! I think in addition we need to ...So poignant madam! I think in addition we need to re-write history textbooks to reflect this recognition of women's roles, this would take things a step further towards conscientisation of youth.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673464177679632934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-70550683136442702972011-04-12T14:53:49.142-04:002011-04-12T14:53:49.142-04:00Increased engagement and involvement within all sp...Increased engagement and involvement within all spheres of society, I like that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673464177679632934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-85233723780875832822011-04-12T06:27:14.070-04:002011-04-12T06:27:14.070-04:00continued from above:
To you Maingi, while I am n...continued from above:<br /><br />To you Maingi, while I am not sure what your definition of a “masculinist” is, however your commitment to gender equality and equity seems to be directly in line with my definition of feminism. Your assertion that “it is the responsibility of women to create tomorrow's history today so that this article will not have to be written again in future!” is exactly what I think is wrong with the struggle for gender equality. As I say to Gcobani above, for as long as men see gender equality as a responsibility of women we will not make any overtures. In the same vain I would argue that if white people thought ending racism was a responsibility of black people then even there we would not make any progress. Hence I very much like the concept of the “three Ps” which gives us ALL responsibility to confront our relationship with patriarchy. I am keen to understand how exactly as man you ‘transfer; your power to a woman, because that to me seems like no power at all if someone has to give it to you. The fact that men are able to give this power says a lot more about this discourse where others can ‘give’ and ‘take back’ as they wish because they “own it”. It also goes back to the institution debated I refer Gcobani too and our infatuation with the “add and stir” approach that I have seen in addressing gender and racial equality. <br /><br />The same argument you make about women being ‘given’ power because they are seen as unthreatening is similar to affirmative action argument of blacks who are ‘window dressing’ our corporate and public institutions as nothing beyond stooges for institutions who do have no interest in genuine racial transformation. My point is here is that for “strong women” to “exercise power at home, at school, at work, church, in the farm” the community in these institutions should also be prepared and at least aspiring for transformation. Because not matter how ‘strong’ those women are, like their men they are also products of patriarchy. And unless some in their community especially their men partners are also prepared for a different type of partnership, those strong women will remain an anomaly in our society. Thus I put it to you that women cannot create “tomorrow’s history” if their community at home, work and political unless the whole community is ready to examine how they contribute to this power structure that’s work towards an alternative power structure. Thus as studies on race have began not only to look at the consequences of racial domination by looking at blackness only, but have been interrogating whiteness thus making the privileged confront their privilege and how their privilege contributes to a distorted racial power dynamic that affects ALL of us at the personal, professional and political level, I argue that we need to do the same with gender.Siphokazihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337255783667231624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-70975435022591262012011-04-12T06:26:09.127-04:002011-04-12T06:26:09.127-04:00continued from above:
I am sure that even in Ame...continued from above: <br /><br />I am sure that even in America with individuals who thought the election of Obama would lead to an end of America’s institutionalised racism against African Americans have realised that unless the same millions of America who were committed to voting for Obama because he was good for ALL Americans, should also commit to changing the institutions that continues to isolate their minority population because the suffering of African Americans is detrimental to ALL Americans. In the same breath I argue that unless ending sexism is seen as I put a condition that holds ALL of us “hostage” thus both women and men, gender equality would remain just a dream. Because even with the example of “soft power” that you use which is usually attributed to women, I find problematic. Because the assumption here is that “hard power” is representative of the masculine, thus any man who exhibits this “soft power” reconciliation approach is seen as a ‘sissy’ to put loosely. I am with those scholars who are arguing that there is nothing inherently soft about women or inherently ‘unsoft’ about men. Thus an alternative masculinity that I call for allows for a wholesome definition that is encompassing of human capabilities instead of specific masculine and feminine traits is what we must strive for. Hence I argue that sexist patriarchy is not only detrimental to women, but also to men as bell hooks argues. This is because there is a privileging of a certain kind of masculinity that is premised on ‘control’ thus by controlling others, in this case ‘their’ women. Thus holding hostage even those men who do not seek to ‘control’ their partners. While creating a femininity that judges masculinity according to how ‘their men control’ them or ‘take charge of the situation’ or as many romance novels will tell you ‘men who have their way with their women.’<br /><br />I agree with your assertion that the failure of feminism was providing alternatives instead of being seen as “anti-male” or as you put it defining themselves according to men. I think we must remember that most of the ‘radical feminists’ that started the movement were pained women who had violent scars of patriarchy thus one couldn’t blame them for wanting to do away with men. But as people like hook’s show feminism has never been about hating men, but about ending sexism and creating a community of self-actualised men and women. It is this challenge I pose to young African scholars both men and women at all the levels of the personal to do away with sexism. Thus the responsibility again is not only for women, but for ALL of us. Thus without making the same mistake we are making with discussions on non-racialism where we cease to discuss race, because to do away with race as with sexism we will have to address it face to face in order to do away with it. Thus we cannot discuss gender equality without discussing what we plan to do with patriarchy. I notice both of you have not used the word “patriarchy” which is loaded word that centres this discussion.Siphokazihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337255783667231624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-41537299551727724462011-04-12T06:24:51.670-04:002011-04-12T06:24:51.670-04:00Thank you Vuyo, Gcobani and Maingi for your commen...Thank you Vuyo, Gcobani and Maingi for your comments. I will attempt address comments Gcobani and Maingi ‘s comments one by one. Gcobani you argue that “women themselves have not taken the lead in defining and ensuring that we know their names” I want to put to you that this is perhaps too harsh if not unfair to the women leaders and I will use South Africa as an example. The unprecedented Women’s Coalition of 1992 that brought South African women of ALL races to draw the Women’s Charter was a clear example of the awareness by the women that the struggle was not only against Apartheid but also against sexist patriarchy. The adoption of the Commission for Gender Equality inscribed in our constitution and the establishment of the Office for the Status of women at the presidency was a commitment to acknowledging the struggles of women. Beyond that I think believe it due to the commitment to gender equality at a policy and practice level that it is normal that South African women compose 42% of our cabinet in key positions such as foreign affairs, defence, energy, education, home affairs and other positions not considered as ‘soft positions.’ Of course this was possible because there were men in the ANC who not only aspired for racial equality but also for gender equality thus joining their women counter-parts in creating a community where ‘their comrades’ could be such at all levels- not only comrades in the bush. <br /><br />Your second point about Ramphela not using her time in power to make the same changes that she is advocating to brings me to my second point about institutions. The reason her assertion of “three Ps” moved me so much was that it stops making gender equality an issue for women only but an issue for ALL of us. That’s including our institutions. I think her inability to practise what she preaches is evident of the “add and stir” approach to gender and racial equality. That is the assumption that if you bring in a bunch of women in an institutions, the institutional culture will change to reflect its new bearers. In the same breath that if you bring in a few black people in institutions that used to be for whites only somehow those individuals will end the racist culture in those institutions. I think in South Africa, as it’s been the case with Affirmative Action in the US, this has not been very successful. As with gender, the argument is that unless there is a wider state, institutional commitment and individual commitment not only by black people in that environment but by ALL people racial equality in our social institutions is unlikely that we will have transformed institutions. I argue that with gender equality it is the same case. That Ramphela as Vice Chancellor or World Bank director alone cannot end sexism unless these institutions themselves open a space for a cultural change- that is meeting her at some point. You are quiet right that a leader in that position has the power to at least open up the discussion on changing the institution, but I put it to you that unless the individuals both men and women in those institutions are committed to transformation her efforts are likely to remain hopes and not reality.Siphokazihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337255783667231624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-72009103621305260202011-04-11T15:06:48.754-04:002011-04-11T15:06:48.754-04:00awesome article!awesome article!Vuyohttp://www.yahoomail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-66552475645418093962011-04-11T12:09:58.227-04:002011-04-11T12:09:58.227-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Gcobanihttp://www.ru.ac.zanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-80893854441280368622011-04-11T11:28:20.971-04:002011-04-11T11:28:20.971-04:00This is an important and urgent article Siphokazi ...This is an important and urgent article Siphokazi and I agree with it entirely. Indeed, scholars and documenters of African history have tended to give the masculine narrative of the story, often ignoring the contribution of the feminine despite the fact that women were right there along with the ‘great men’ as you correctly state.<br /><br />I think however one of the biggest problems that contributes to perpetuating the silencing of the female contributors/thinkers is that African women themselves have not taken the lead in defining and ensuring that we know their names. Past experiences have shown clearly that women in power in Africa tend not to innovate, but emulate and imitate the men who occupied those positions before they did consequently marring the positive contribution that they could have (I think one could also arguably contend that this is also not only a continental, but also a global trend, Hilary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Condoleezza Rice etc). <br /><br />I think Dr Mamphela Ramphela with all the respect that I have for her is also a typical African woman in power trapped at the ‘violent’ patriarchal centre’. I think, while her speeches in the past two years/so have agitated for a more renewed and novel emergence of female leadership and narratives/voice. I think that is why she has been criticised so much for her time at both the World Bank and as the first black female vice chancellor of the University of Cape Town (SA). She was not bold enough when she was in a position of power to introduce a new form of leadership and thinking at the height of her career – when everyone was listening to what she had to say but rather she fell into the masculine entrapment – a safe comfort zone from which she shied to move from.<br /><br />I’m always amazed when I read papers/articles/journals on the emergence of ‘soft-power’ as a tool in both International Relations and businesses to some extent and the authors portray this as a new novel innovation in conducting world affairs (largely attributed to Barack Obama – the masculine), when a quick browse through an anthropological textbook will demonstrate that African women employed ‘soft-power’ long before it was academically conceptualised, often opting for conversing than physical battle in conflict resolution, opting for more for forgiveness rather than retaliation, sharing than deprivation etc… <br /><br />I agree that “an important step to emancipatory projects by the African thinking class will have to start when the intellectual class consciously brings women into the “historical center”” but I want to go further and challenge young female and male thinkers as yourself to start shifting the centre, by not merely articulating the status qou, but by living it as Dr Ramphele correctly contends (the three ‘P’s’ cant be separated). <br /><br />There is strong evidence that the reason why the 3 waves of feminism failed, was not because the idea of feminism was not particularly appealing, but rather because feminism always defined itself in relation to men (consequently giving the masculine power again over the feminine). I rate therefore that intellectual, scholarly and academic produce that is curious about women will need to not shy from moving away from men and into a careful examination of the past, present and future contributions of women. Indeed as the old Frantz Fanon adage dictates: “The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House”. <br /><br />But this is a bold article and should start agitating for a deeper engagement with the intellectual contribution that women have, are, and could possibly make…Gcobani Qambelahttp://twitter.com/gcobani_qambelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-40721972716589725162011-04-11T09:58:06.517-04:002011-04-11T09:58:06.517-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Vuyohttp://www.vuyo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-41666200662261135622011-04-09T18:17:29.568-04:002011-04-09T18:17:29.568-04:00Thanks Nadia! I think that just by having this dia...Thanks Nadia! I think that just by having this dialogue, we are engaged in an endeavor that will hopefully result in a meaningful change in our societies. We must be careful not to confine ourselves within the academic world, being member of larger communities, we must always strive to engage in critical dialogue with other segments of our societies. We all have different views on the need to be politically engaged, but at least I think we would all agree that scholar activism should not be a matter of choice for the African intellectual. The task is so large that it is not enough to only engage ourselves in theoretical debates.Oumar Bahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03953582759438775572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-54559995903430623212011-04-06T11:10:17.078-04:002011-04-06T11:10:17.078-04:00Excellent piece, "what matters is not to know...Excellent piece, "what matters is not to know the world, but to change it." It is indeed not enough to have African theorists, they should be positively impacting change in the continent itself. How do you think we can make use of this forum to begin to fulfill this goal?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13673464177679632934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-51429577275826257602011-04-01T02:36:01.546-04:002011-04-01T02:36:01.546-04:00I think you've hit it on the head dear friends...I think you've hit it on the head dear friends. The biggest challenge to Africa's intellectual project is two fold:<br /><br />Firstly, Africa's intelligenstia is, as observed, fragmented, scatterred, and still obliged to bow down before the institutionalised intellectual architecture of the Bretton Woods Institutions. As we know it: he who controls the purse strings, controls that that is produced. They set the agenda and ommit views deemed inconvenient to the popular project of accumulation. Spaces of intellectual rigour and freedom exist only in as far as they appease popular interests. We no longer pursue the mastery of imperfect knowledge for its own sake cause the budget agenda determines that that is pursued and no longer the love of knowledge for its own sake for popular change.<br /><br />It is in this regards that I reckon that scholar activists should recapture the opportunity to mobilise and build networks of scholars ensued by the thrill of ideaological contestation and the thrill of contesting established truths. Alternative views have been in the margins for too long. However, increasingly, established orthodoxy will seize to be relevant if it is unable to capture the pulse and imagination of the day as lived vy ordinary people. It will have to evolve for relevance's sake. And here lies the opportunity for new networks to occupy spaces.<br /><br />Secondly, there's a bigger challenge concerning the need to develop Africa's appetite for knowledge and to appreciate the role o its 'advanced elements' in the struggle for a just society. We remain one of the region's the record the lowest literacy rates, even when compared to other developing regions. The love for knowledge, books, ideas has been lost in the winds of institutional demacration (i.e. Timbuktu)and degeneration (Africa's institution's of higher learning have been reduced to undigniied monuments and at worst memorial gravesites o generations preceeding ancient ones). This needs to change. President TM speaks of the continental call to 'rebuild the city of Carthage'. However, Im no longer confident that Africa can boast of a cadreship committed to taking up this task for principles sake, as many have sold their souls to the highest political bidders, sacrificing principle for the sake of political expedience. This is a sad truth dear cdes. Mediocre has displaced the culture of excellence in service, where vulture contends with owl to occupy the highest seats of lands. The game of survival of the fittest is not for the meek nor cowardice.<br /><br />Evil flourishes when good people sit done in indifference and do nothing. If we could start by rebuilding and creating synergies between existing organisations/networks/movements of scholar activists, as a start this could yield serious fruits in future....we should never despise the days of small beginnings, nope not at all!!Zukiswa Mqolombahttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-13844139992050633302011-03-31T02:10:11.579-04:002011-03-31T02:10:11.579-04:00What we should do as young emerging intellectuals?...What we should do as young emerging intellectuals? what should be the normative role of our emergent scholarship? How we part take in movement of the centre? For me, I should think, while we are learning and taking stock from the works of our intellectual heros like franz fanon and others, we should do so conscious of their shortcomings and mistakes and try to learn from these. We should not repeat the same mistakes they did. As young intellectuals, we should join the vanguard intellectaul movement that seeks to decolonize social sciences in Africa. How? by continuing to add critical balance to the policy debates in Africa and by mainstreaming African perspectives in the international discourse.Like Prussian who, after the death of George Hegel, formed a thinking club called Young Hegelians, we should also form like-minded youth thinking clubs and discursive communities. It is sadness today in South Africa that our brothers and sisters have turned to the 'twitterati' and 'blogerrati' for knowledge and critical analysis because our public intellectuals are not available to offer sound critical analysis on current affairs. We as young intellectuals we are not helping because most of the time we write in a language that is not understandable and we remain trapped in the abstract world. As young intellectuals, we should not be butterfly chasers nor should we be theory intoxicated intellectuals. We should assist in generating new African intellectual toolkits and in changing the West's gazing and writing about Africa.We should be able to balance the theoretical and real world. We should not be afraid to write, we should not be afraid to think and flush out of our continental discourse those who are hell bent in reinforcing the status quo and in advancing the interests of key actors in a globalizing world.Thembani Mbadlanyanahttp://www.yahoomail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-61908383710484902842011-03-31T02:09:04.414-04:002011-03-31T02:09:04.414-04:00I concur with what colleagues have alluded to abov...I concur with what colleagues have alluded to above.It is a fact that African policy makers and decision makers need expert knowledge to bear on their legislative and policy decisions.This expert knowledge should by no means imported and extroverted- it should be informed, first and foremost by our ontological african experiences.This expert knowledge should come from one of our own, it should come from our African intellectuals and from our epistemic communities like CODESRIA.<br /><br />With regard to redifining our purpose and striving towards achieving it, I should think there have been many initiatives to that direction- APRM and NEPAD being examples. Our intellectuals have also contributed a lot in these initiatives. But for me the problem lies at African Institutions of governance,continental geo-politics and lack of visionary and decisive leadership. New Visions, new visions are developed and elaborated on but the problem is lack of coordination, competing interests of African countries, lack of urgency of some states and continued external intervention on African Affairs.<br /><br /><br />With regard to 'shifting the centre', I dont think the centre will shift anytime soon.This is so because African scholarship, as Gcobani rightfully points out, its still fragmented.Our Intellectuals are working in silos, with little, if any collaboration.We are witnessing 'intellectaul survival of the fittest' where our intellectuals are competing for the West sponsored fellowships and study grants. Although CODESRIA and others are trying, there is little effort to build a strong thinking class and discusive communities in the continent. What compounds this problem is that, our social sciences is still not decolonized, its still extroverted. Our academia is still emblematic of mimetic isomorphism (achieving conformity through imitation)and our intellectual frames of reference are still grounded on western scholarly traditions. We as the emerging young African intelligentsia, we commit the same mistake of our forebeares. Our emergent scholarship is not framed in such a way that it will move the centre. As the new cohort/cadreship of African Intellectuals, we continue to idolize western scholarship and to be concerned with status anxiety. We are not moving beyond knowledge regurgitation and we are not transcending the abstract world.For me the centre will only move when we have reached a consensus on what are 'african studies', what is 'african social sciences' and what is the normative role of african schoalrship in shaping continental futures and in moving the centre.The centre will only shift when African scholarship has, as its raison d'etere , embedded autonomy. It will move when African intellectuals have managed to form a formidable thinking force that is centred on intellectual activism.<br /><br />[continued below]Thembani Mbadlanyanahttp://www.yahoomail.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-4359819885866385582011-03-30T09:21:02.030-04:002011-03-30T09:21:02.030-04:00This is a really great and timely article Zukiswa....This is a really great and timely article Zukiswa. Very well written and key at the moment in painting both the historical account and contemporary projections as to where African intellectuals should be engaged the most - and I agree with it entirely for the most part. But I also think most importantly we also really need to start questioning whether Africa’s intellectuals are really ready for the task ahead of them, indeed in the last 10 years it has been inspiring to see the new ‘cadre’ of scholar activists emerge with novel intellectual orgasms as to where we should be going – as interpreted by our own generation/eye. But knowledge production by African scholars on Africa is still very polarised at the moment and the reason why African scholars have not been able to penetrate to mainstream scholarly policy decisions to effect proper social change has been largely because of the collaborative failure of our intellectuals. <br /><br />While indeed there have been young thinkers emerging, but I think we should start critically looking at the value of creating ‘world class’ intellectuals without any grounds on which to make a positive contribution in society, and the only way I foresee it happening is through (interdisciplinary) collaboration between intellectuals which gaining momentum at the moment in academe but has NOT taken off. <br /><br />I think at the moment climate change is probably the area where African intellectuals are failing to actually interpret reality as lived and experienced by Africans at the moment, again falling into the same trap and relying on knowledge produced overseas for what is a completely different climate, therefore resulting in ineffective results (am working on a paper on this and it still forms a large part of my theses which I will share with the Bokamoso people in time), but the point is that as alluded to in Thembani’s paper there is this pre-occupation with ‘status’ amongst African intellectuals, I.e. it’s no longer about now making and serving people through knowledge production for policy makers, but the discourse has shifted to which prestigious (often foreign) journal an intellectual will be published in etc. <br /><br />Will make you and example, am following on Twitter two prominent intellectuals in Africa on Twitter at the moment: one (1) Achille Mbembe who feeds us food for thought EVERYDAY on Fanon and SA’s contemporary position and where the youth can play a role etc, and the other (2) another well known academic in Jo’burg who updates 80% of the time about the next conference they are attending, which fellowship they have been awarded etc. now these are important signifiers that although we are already building the new cadre, no doubt about that, but most of them are also falling into the same trap which have for the most part rendered intellectuals completely useless in Africa, with two distinct prototypes of intellectus emerging: those who want all the glory for themselves (who care about prestigious journals, fellowships etc), and those like Mbembe who make time to Tweet everyday engaging and responding to African youth they have never met, only to teach them Fanon and his importance to us. <br /><br />So in moving forward: how do you propose we move beyond this ‘status anxiety’ that Thembani talked about to a more critical engagement with each other’s work’s as intellectuals (in a supportive, but still engaged way), when the system is favourable to individual achievement? How do we in Africa merge polarised views on hot and contested African issues and still make a difference? (e.g. in context of climate change – some academics saying it’s an issue of importance to Africa and others saying it is not) How do we take these discussions beyond the 10% that has access to the internet in Africa to the 90% who have never touched a computer screen? …Gcobani Qambelahttp://twitter.com/#!/gcobani_qambelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-60554315297618210582011-03-30T08:35:51.389-04:002011-03-30T08:35:51.389-04:00Thank you for this, we too often get lost in exter...Thank you for this, we too often get lost in external viewpoints and approaches to the issues of our beloved continent. Like Siphokazi, I would like to hear more about concrete ideas around today's intelligensia structuring itself towards knowledge production geared at African development. In addition, I would like to suggest that as part of this new vision, a platform/forum for today's thinkers to share ideas and contributions would go a long way towards achieving this goal.Nadia Ahmadouhttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-40802495599500342852011-03-30T06:17:27.686-04:002011-03-30T06:17:27.686-04:00Thanks for this piece Zuki. It continues nicely th...Thanks for this piece Zuki. It continues nicely the debate Thembani, Gcobani and Bose have opened about the place/value of knowledge production in the continent. It does seem that during Fanon’s time, Nkruma, Sobukwe , Mafeje and the many great African thinkers the struggle was much easier to define that is the colonial resource and intellectual projects. What you all show is Mbembe’s dilemma of the postcolony under resourced and needing to define purpose and audience. I need you to tell me the ways in which we can begin to “discover our mission, to fulfil it or betray it.” If I am a young graduate today at some university who wants to be part of “moving the centre” where do I start? What should be my next move after reading your article? Now that I know what other thinkers in the continent have done and what intellectuals elsewhere have also contributed to the condition of the continent, where do I begin my journey?Siphokazihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337255783667231624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-11013516594188473742011-03-08T09:04:45.165-05:002011-03-08T09:04:45.165-05:00(Just note that the City Press misspelt Eusebius&#...(Just note that the City Press misspelt Eusebius' surname. It is McKeiser, not McKeinser...or I think it is at least...)<br /><br />I think it’s great that you are engaging a topic like this becaus...e I agree with you and Eusebius that South Africa (and, as you say, many other African countries) do not have enough intellectuals (both academic and public). I do, however, disagree with Eusebius that the Humanities and Social Sciences need to 'sort themselves out' (my words, not his) and that academics are not interested in social engagement. Although public intellectuals do not necessarily have to go to university, many do. Think of journalists, writers, researchers etc - many of them studied journalism, literature, politics and the likes. I cannot speak for other African countries but in South Africa, critical thinking is often discouraged, not just by the government who is frequently only interested in 'policy relevant' research and commentary, but also by universities themselves, the one place where critical/independent thinking should be encouraged and protected. Lecturers within the Humanities/Social Sciences are under pressure to teach 'relevant' courses and produce relevant research which do serve a purpose but do not always inspire young people to think outside of the box or to be critical. I know of many academics who have been repremanded or fired because they spoke out against clamp downs on academic freedom, prescribed (non-negotiable) coursework, mismanagement etc. If your academics are not actively encouraged to be critical, innovative and independent, how do you expect universities to produce socially aware and politically conscious young intellectuals? This is just one way of explaining why we have a lack of public intellectuals in SA (and Africa). There are many other reasons. But for me, the most important thing is to encourage and give a platform to not only young intellectuals but intellectuals in general. They must not be muted, chastised, threatened or fired because they speak 'truth to power'. And as the public we also have a responsibility to value and encourage intellectuals and the work they do. Eusebius is correct to say that we do not value them enough. <br /><br />I also think that although it is true that there is a disconnect between the knowledge Africa produces and its implementation, one must be careful not to over-glorify 'relevant' or 'policy relevant' knowledge. It is necessary, yes, BUT we cannot understand our future if we do not understand our history and how it determined the limits in which we function. To do this, we need historians, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, linguistics etc. to engage in deep study so that we can understand who and why we are. These types of studies, however, often struggle to get funding – they are judged as not 'relevant' or 'economically viable' enough. So, in my mind there has to be a balance between relevant knowledge production and knowledge production which is intellectually curious and open. <br /><br />Estelle :)Estellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-4184764527188486002011-03-08T09:00:28.632-05:002011-03-08T09:00:28.632-05:00(Just note that the City Press misspelt Eusebius&#...(Just note that the City Press misspelt Eusebius' surname. It is McKeiser, not McKeinser...or I think it is at least...)<br /><br />I think it’s great that you are engaging a topic like this becaus...e I agree with you and Eusebius that South Africa (and, as you say, many other African countries) do not have enough intellectuals (both academic and public). I do, however, disagree with Eusebius that the Humanities and Social Sciences need to 'sort themselves out' (my words, not his) and that academics are not interested in social engagement. Although public intellectuals do not necessarily have to go to university, many do. Think of journalists, writers, researchers etc - many of them studied journalism, literature, politics and the likes. I cannot speak for other African countries but in South Africa, critical thinking is often discouraged, not just by the government who is frequently only interested in 'policy relevant' research and commentary, but also by universities themselves, the one place where critical/independent thinking should be encouraged and protected. Lecturers within the Humanities/Social Sciences are under pressure to teach 'relevant' courses and produce relevant research which do serve a purpose but do not always inspire young people to think outside of the box or to be critical. I know of many academics who have been repremanded or fired because they spoke out against clamp downs on academic freedom, prescribed (non-negotiable) coursework, mismanagement etc. If your academics are not actively encouraged to be critical, innovative and independent, how do you expect universities to produce socially aware and politically conscious young intellectuals? This is just one way of explaining why we have a lack of public intellectuals in SA (and Africa). There are many other reasons. But for me, the most important thing is to encourage and give a platform to not only young intellectuals but intellectuals in general. They must not be muted, chastised, threatened or fired because they speak 'truth to power'. And as the public we also have a responsibility to value and encourage intellectuals and the work they do. Eusebius is correct to say that we do not value them enough. <br /><br />I also think that although it is true that there is a disconnect between the knowledge Africa produces and its implementation, one must be careful not to over-glorify 'relevant' or 'policy relevant' knowledge. It is necessary, yes, BUT we cannot understand our future if we do not understand our history and how it determined the limits in which we function. To do this, we need historians, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, linguistics etc. to engage in deep study so that we can understand who and why we are. These types of studies, however, often struggle to get funding – they are judged as not 'relevant' or 'economically viable' enough. So, in my mind there has to be a balance between relevant knowledge production and knowledge production which is intellectually curious and open. <br /><br />Estelle :)Estellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-43940753680731861072011-02-25T08:44:12.421-05:002011-02-25T08:44:12.421-05:00Thanks Gcobani for your very insightful input. You...Thanks Gcobani for your very insightful input. You are correct, most of our great thinkers in Africa (Léopold Sédar Senghor, Nkrumah, Mbeki and others) in the 20th century,were excellent in ideation but lacking in operationalization. For me this is so because, generation and/or churning out of ideas is the labour of the mind and soul- an individual undertaking. On the contrary, to make one's ideas a reality, more especially at a macro/state level, its a collective action. To implement your ideas you need others- you need to change hearts and minds, you need to change people's modes of thinking and gazing ( shift the prevailing "geography of reasoning"). At times you need to dislodge the prevailing discourses of the time in order to make sure that your ideas are implemented. This takes time to happen and given the time presidents stay in power in democracies like South Africa, good ideas fade away. Another reason is that, in liberal democracies like SA and in Africa (where there are diverging interests and views on issues), a leader like Mbeki can have great ideas (NEPAD, APRM etc)but in the policy making process there is a constellation of policy actors and many veto points, making one's great idea to fade away during the "policy primeval soup" (a process, similar to natural selection, which determines which ideas survive and which fade). Another reason is that in democratic systems of governance, there are many ideas/policy brokers and many "policy shops/venues" where policy makers and decision makers can go for policy shopping and they might not always go to the policy shop with briliant ideas.<br /><br />I really agree with you, we really need thinkers and doers, our ideas need to work for us. But the problem is a very deep one and has to do with our value systems and structural relations in Africa. in postcolonial Africa we have seen a permeation of new societal norms and values-where the self/individual takes a centre stage and the rest follows. People are so interested in attaining bettering their own lives and those of their relatives-but not that of the community and the country. Unlike in countries like China, where there is a sense of nation pride, working for one's country, in Africa we dont have that. A sense of nation pride was not inculcated in our ways of thinking and doing things. So those with expertise to actionalize great ideas decide to leave the continent-thus greating a gap between knowledge generation and capacity to implement.<br /><br />But I agree with you, knowledge without action is useless/nothing. Thats why I really like the idea of scholar/practioner.Thembani Mbadlanyanahttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3268763091226029271.post-51463409567582585672011-02-17T11:18:13.351-05:002011-02-17T11:18:13.351-05:00Thank you very much for the article Thembani. It’s...Thank you very much for the article Thembani. It’s a really original concept which I think affirms you as part of the continents emerging intelligentsia, and indeed it’s about time we had these “conversations” with the likes of Dr Nkrumah. <br /><br />This is a must read, although I do not entirely agree with it. I think Africa’s history has shown that intellectuals/knowledge producers in power have not necessarily been the most productive, especially as Presidents (think Nkrumah himself, Think Mbeki etc). As thinker’s and on paper, they excelled but as doers, they failed dismally.<br /><br />Indeed knowledge production by Africans is important, but I would argue that it’s not as important as what we are able to do with that knowledge. We have many thinkers in the continent, but African thinkers have not been able to bridge the gap between substantively applying that knowledge to better improve the lives of those they innovate for.<br /><br />That’s what separates us from China, the US, etc These countries/continents produce the most hi-tech kids who have all the “hip” gadgets (who you would say are concerned with “status anxiety”) and yet these kids themselves are active agents in innovation, societal change and knowledge production for their own countries… <br /><br />I think we need more than just intellectuals to restore what Mbeki metaphorically referred to as “the rebuilding of Carthage”… we need doer’s. Ideas in themselves are not sufficient, as sadly history has shown – for the African continent.Gcobani Qambelahttp://twitter.com/qambelagcobaninoreply@blogger.com