"Using E-clustering to Learn and Teach about
Mwalimu Toyin Falola": A Poignant Example
Indeed, Mwalimu Toyin Adepoju, you have summarized the essence of Wikipedia quite well. In fact, in my chapter titled "Using E-clustering to Learn and Teach about Mwalimu Toyin Falola" in one of my books in progress, Wikipedia is one of the eight clusters comprising the "Falola E-clustering Strategy," which in turn entails seven sub-clusters. This is how powerful and popular our humble and selfless Mwalimu Falola and his work have become on the Internet, but needed computer clustering to reap its rewards.
In the chapter, I had this to say about Wikipedia:
"...entries in Wikipedia must provide citations that are unbiased and proven to be factual, and they are also reviewed by editors. Wikipedia is found to be as nearly as factually accurate as Encyclopedia Britannica and Encarta. Josten ends with the following poignant observation:"
"If you are still wondering if Wikipedia can be trusted, keep in mind that it took over 70 years and thousands of contributors, including an inmate in an asylum for the criminally insane, to create the original Oxford English Dictionary. Just because thousands of people have made a contribution, that doesn't inherently make the information incorrect."[19]
So, I welcome you to the Wikipedia family of editors, Mwalimu Toyin Adepoju. For many years now, my cry for more Afrikans to edit Wikipedia entries has fallen on the proverb deaf ears. So your effort must be commended.
Since the first place most people doing research today consult is the Internet, and more than 23 million people consult Wikipedia each day and is the first Web site that pops up when searching most topics, it behooves us Afrikans to give a bit of our time editing the encyclopedia. If we do not take advantage of this opportunity, Afrikan thoughts and thinkers will remain marginalized. And if other folks who are less knowledgeable about them do so, we have no business complaining for our failure.
Having edited more 100 Wikipedia entries dealing with Afrikan thinkers and contributions to mathematics, computer science, politics, economics, linguistics, Abrahamic faiths, etc., please do not hesitate to ask if I could be of assistance.
In Peace Always,
Abdul Karim Bangura/.
----- Original Message -----From: OLUWATOYIN ADEPOJUSent: 1/1/2013 8:01:28 PMSubject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - CALL FOR ACTION ON WIKIPEDIA ESSAYSON LITERATUREI expect we all know that anyone can participate in Wikipedia and that its volunteers constitute anybody, from anywhere who cares to contribute. You dont need anyone's permission.You will have to make sure you can corroborate any statement you make and can defend it when challenged by other editors.--
I have drafted a correction to the definition of literature in the essay but am learning how to integrate references as links in the body of the contribution.The job of making the Wikipedia essay more inclusive of world literature, particularly in the modern period, is a huge one, as shown by the level of detail given to modern Western literature, in which famous books are listed in terms of a year by year sequence of publication,with a focus on Western literature.A similar level of detail needs to be achieved on the other world literatures.I seem to have observed the same problem in the essay on modern art but will look more carefully at that.toyin
On Wed, Jan 2, 2013 at 12:40 AM, OLUWATOYIN ADEPOJU <tvade3@gmail.com> wrote:
I will respond only because it seems some people might not have understood my point, going by this response.I am asking everyone who can to participate in the project.toyin
On Tue, Jan 1, 2013 at 11:55 PM, Ikhide <xokigbo@yahoo.com> wrote:
Africans! Here we go again, reacting to the work of others, complaining, Oliver Twist, asking for more. Always reacting, never proactive. Would it not be simply easier for us to get off our lazy butts and improve upon Wikipedia by setting up a literature page the way we want it? Who and what stops us? I mean, why are we like this? It is very simple, no one will do for you what you must do for yourself. Go set up your own page, or beg them nicely to do it for you. It is a volunteer group, they are running as fast as they can. This man, you have a lot of time on your hands!- IkhideStalk my blog at http://www.xokigbo.com/Follow me on Twitter: @ikhideJoin me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikhideFrom: OLUWATOYIN ADEPOJU <tvade3@gmail.com>
To: nigerianauthors <nigerianauthors@yahoogroups.com>; Jos ANA Discussion List <josana@yahoogroups.co.uk>; mbariliterarysociety <mbariliterarysociety@yahoogroups.com>; writerswithoutborders@yahoogroups.com; wolesoyinkasociety <wolesoyinkasociety@yahoogroups.com>; usaafricadialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>; Mwananchi <Mwananchi@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 5:42 PM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - CALL FOR ACTION ON WIKIPEDIA ESSAYS ON LITERATURE
CALL FOR ACTION ON WIKIPEDIA ESSAYS ON LITERATUREOluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Compcros
"Exploring Every Corner of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"
"Unifying the Cosmos in a Grain of Sand"The Wikipedia essay on literature has at its top the following comment-"The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with English-speaking territories and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (May 2012)"On going to 'talk' or discussion page, I saw these comments, among others-"Huge problem with article
"I think there is a lot that can be done to improve this page, which I also found to be problematic, to put it mildly. As a literature professor and scholar in the field, I'm concerned that this page is inaccurate, incomplete and a very biased article which does not reflect current thinking on the topic. I'll collate some references and see if I can learn what the issues have been through reviewing the history of the literature page. If anyone has any insight, please feel free to contact me on my talk page. (Note, I'm new to Wikipedia, so if I've violated any protocols, please let me know-- but be nice!)"Article needs an overhaul
The article is confused enough to be close to misinformation, IMO. I'll try to copy edit a bit in the coming weeks. Could use help from people comfortable with literary history, theory, etc... Beyond the English language, even better. OttawaAC (talk) 23:07, 14 October 2012 (UTC)"I understand the essays on "Literature" and on "History of Literature" as having the following problems-1. They make scant reference to African literature outside ancient Egypt, talk less discussing the place of African literature in the context of world literature.
2. They fall into the fallacy of describing much of modern literature almost exclusively in terms of Western literature.
3. They describe literature as written texts while downplaying oral literature as controversial as to its literary quality.I urge everyone grounded in the relevant fields to do their best to correct these fallacies.
Wikipedia cannot be taken for granted beceause it is a first point of call for many people all over the world in searching for detailed information on almost any subject.
It provides a sterling opportunity to everyone to fight against marginalization in global discourse on behalf of any group.ThanksToyin--CompcrosComparative Cognitive Processes and Systems"Exploring Every Corner of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"--
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CompcrosComparative Cognitive Processes and Systems"Exploring Every Corner of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"
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CompcrosComparative Cognitive Processes and Systems"Exploring Every Corner of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"
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