interesting discussion):
This continuous discussion of image of Africa starts 90 seconds into
the recording - and although they say the same things in the
beginning, it's different from the other link that I posted earlier
(wrong link). They stop repeating themselves from the 12th minute on
when a debate starts between Nurrudin Farah and the man from "the
Journalist tribe". Nurrudin Farah winds up talking radically about the
"Yoruba nation" (17.50 onwards):
http://translate.google.se/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ur.se%2Fplay%2F160134
On 28 Jan, 13:27, Cornelius Hamelberg <corneliushamelb...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Re- be careful /considerate with what you say
>
> Some time ago, there was a lot of dissatisfaction expressed, in this
> forum, about so called foreign experts who having only spent a couple
> of days in Africa would return to the West to write their insightful
> expert, often distorted reports about various aspects of the Dark
> Continent.
>
> In my view - and very practically speaking, we have to be careful
> because as things are, politically speaking, there is always the
> difference between constructive criticism and destructive criticism;
> there is the tendency for the opposition parties in our African
> countries to go the extra mile in criticizing, even demonizing
> incumbent governments to the point of grossly exaggerating some of the
> corruption and nepotism and injustice, especially to the outside
> world, to score political points - and by pandering to what Moses Ebe
> Ochonu refers to as "the prejudice of Westerners", to even demand that
> foreign aid be terminated - that some people in government only fill
> their own pockets with the aid that was meant to for the country.
>
> And then in some cases, as happened in Sierra Leone, the opposition
> can win an election - and then have to set out on a re-branding
> exercise: re-branding the tattered / tarnished image, that they
> themselves helped to create of the country as a cesspool of corruption
> when they were in opposition.
>
> Erasing that kind of image of a country is not easily done. This being
> the case, without splitting hairs, this is why I'm inclined to
> agree with, Kwabena Akurang-Parry that " This is the more reason why
> we should rethink what we say about our countries.", without that
> implying that either of us would like to silence freedom of speech or
> accurate reporting - or even criminalize malicious intentions.There
> are of course criminal procedures that can be taken against libel and
> slander.
>
> This interesting discussion ( link below) about the image of Africa
> in the West is moderated by Marika Griehsel who worked as a Swedish
> TV correspondent stationed in South Africa, 1990-2001.
> The discussion is from around the time of the African Book Fair in
> Göteborg last year, with Nuruddin Farah among others, on the panel.
> (I dream that Pius Adesanmi will be at the next African Book Fair in
> Sweden and will be on such a panel, for such a discussion!)
>
> The discussion continues in English 2.45 minutes into the recording:
>
> http://www.ur.se/play/160555
>
> On 25 Jan, 15:58, "Kissi, Edward" <eki...@usf.edu> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Ikhide,
>
> > I agree with Tony that you owe Kwabena Akurang-Parry an apology and one that should be expressed immediately in this forum. You may not be aware of the weight of the charge of "anti-semitism" in our world today. I know something about it because I study the Holocaust and am aware of the anti-Semitic prejudices that caused it. There is nothing anti-semitic about the perspectives Kwabena offered about the Madoff case. To impute anti-Semitic motives and prejudices to him and those perspectives he offered is beyond the pale and the bounds of analytic decency. It is not free speech. It is hate-speech. Kwabena Akurang-Parry is not the person you have so gravely mischaracterized here. I know Akurang-Parry. He is a friend of mine. I went to the same school with him and studied in the same Department with him. He is no anti-semite. If he does not strike you as anti-semitic, then why insinuate that he is or may be. Whatever we do, we should be careful not to throw charges of anti-Semitism about in a cavalier way. They are not helpful to those who throw them, and they are hurtful to the decent character of those against whom those charges are thrown.
>
> > Let the record reflect that Ikhide has falsely and unfairly assassinated the character of Kwabena Akurang-Parry!
>
> > Edward Kissi
>
> > From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Tony Agbali
> > Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 11:04 PM
> > To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Wealth - Caveat Emptor
>
> > Ikhide,
>
> > "Professor Akurang-Parry's choice of the Madoff saga to illustrate whatever case is inappropriate and unfortunate. For contrary to his flip remarks, the Madoff situation has indeed bred a rebirth of anti-semitic glee among those who see in Madoff the worst of those of the Jewish faith. It has been a case of bludgeoning the victim twice. Professor Akurang-Parry is either willfully ignorant or hugely insensitive to the heartbreak of victims whose only crime was to trust someone with their life savings. I think in this case, the good professor would choose to be characterized as willfully ignorant. He doesn't strike me as someone so insensitive as to expose himself to unfair charges of anti-semitism. But then, what do I know?"- Ikhide
>
> > Ikhide, where did the Professor Akurang-Parry insinuate anti-semitism? Just where or how? It is your own darkened imagination imputing to the man what he had not inferred. Because Madoff breds such imagination in the minds of folks does not mean that Akurang-Parr has stated it.
>
> > Rather, than him you are the one who is being anti-semitic here, using Akurang-Parry as your smokescreen for your dejectable bigotry and sentimental cowardice. This is pitiful. You always insinuate wild-card offensive things about others. Who they hell dare you? A Joseph McCarthy reincarnate causing wild card scare?
>
> > You truly a bemusing and despicable scarescrow! There is saying that once you become an adult you outgrow eating the chicken head and struggling for its feet!
>
> > You are the one who will not see anything good about the return of stolen Benin artifacts to its aborigine! You reduced Uwem Akpan's writings as not worthy of respect, the man went on to win awards and place among Oprah's must read. You are trying to be original but your "kpankolo head" and "bad belle" no dey allow you think right. Please, don't let me imagine that that your oldies Cecilia "baby pan-cake" made you misspoke!
>
> > Ikhide we need to plug your mind on life-support, it is failing you abysmally!
>
> > Seriously, you owe Akurang-Parry an apology and a retraction of that bogey of a labeling of him as anti-semitic, when in fact, there is nothing within his perspective to ever suggest that, in all his discursive engagements herein. You, also owe every Jew, an apology, for this crafty way to be anti-Jewish and anti-semitic, in your passive-aggressive assault and insensitivity. Else, you Ikhide, would be adjudged as having committed a crass crime against humanity! Of course, until you apologize, you need to promptly resign that your Ombudsman position in God knows where, for this avid hatred of Jews!
>
> > --- On Mon, 1/24/11, xoki...@yahoo.com <xoki...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > From: xoki...@yahoo.com <xoki...@yahoo.com>
> > Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Wealth - Caveat Emptor
> > To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> > Cc: meoch...@gmail.com, KAP...@ship.edu, piusadesa...@yahoo.com
> > Date: Monday, January 24, 2011, 5:00 PM
> > "The whole Madoff's scam throws light on the ways that hegemony and the constructions of the "other" work. Madoff has been singled out as ONE American criminal. Just imagine if Madoff as a Ghanaian whose criminal activities had brought down the world's economy and consider the generalizations that would have been perpetrated to demonize not only Ghanaians, but all Africans! This is the more reason why we should rethink what we say about our countries."
>
> > - Kwabena Akurang-Parry
>
> > Professor Akurang-Parry's choice of the Madoff saga to illustrate whatever case is inappropriate and unfortunate. For contrary to his flip remarks, the Madoff situation has indeed bred a rebirth of anti-semitic glee among those who see in Madoff the worst of those of the Jewish faith. It has been a case of bludgeoning the victim twice. Professor Akurang-Parry is either willfully ignorant or hugely insensitive to the heartbreak of victims whose only crime was to trust someone with their life savings. I think in this case, the good professor would choose to be characterized as willfully ignorant. He doesn't strike me as someone so insensitive as to expose himself to unfair charges of anti-semitism. But then, what do I know?
>
> > And if you ask me, I would lose those proverbs from Ghana. They are now used inappropriately to parody and diminish a people. Proverbs were not meant to make caricatures out of the good people of Ghana. But then it is up to Professor Akurang-Parry and his people. I am not from Ghana.
>
> > - Ikhide
> > Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
> > ________________________________
> > From: Moses Ebe Ochonu <meoch...@gmail.com>
> > Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> > Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:13:04 -0600
> > To: <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
> > ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Wealth - Caveat Emptor
>
> > Nana Kwabena Akurang-Parry,
>
> > Oh, self-appointed gate-keeper of Pan-African correctness, I withheld my "Abdul Bangura plague" from you but you unburdened the full weight of your Akan fury on me. I critique you in the honest spirit of intellectual disputation and you attack with venom and inexplicable hostility, replete with proverbs and Ghana-speak putdowns. Wetin, my broda?
>
> > Anyway, sha, my point is a simple one: there are many Pan-Africanisms and nationalisms. Your own brand dictates that "we should be careful about what we say about our countries" (euphemism for "don't criticize or say negative things in public forums about your countries, their leaderships, peoples, and vices or don't be too harsh or unforgiving in your critique. This is consistent with your constant railings and accusations against Nigerian critics who in your opinion are too harsh in "badmouthing" their country) because it might reinforce or inspire the
>
> ...
>
> läs mer »- Dölj citerad text -
>
> - Visa citerad text -
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