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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 22:46:57 +0000
To: Digest recipients<usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Digest for usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com - 13 updates in 8 topics
Group: http://groups.google.com/group/usaafricadialogue/topics
- Fw: Worsening governance and a social contract in flames [3 Updates]
- STAR LIST: Times "The 100 Most Influential People" [2 Updates]
- Fw: WORSENING GOVERNANCE AND A SOCIAL CONTRACT IN FLAMES [3 Updates]
- I SAW THE SKY FALL - Book signing and launching [1 Update]
- Strategies of Scholarly Depth and Range : Ogo Ofuani on Okot p'Bitek [1 Update]
- Diaspora news: Nigerian stabbed by Nazi in Sweden.... [1 Update]
- Strategies of Scholarly Depth and Range : Ogo Ofuani on Okot p'Bitek [1 Update]
- Quote of the Day [1 Update]
- ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com Apr 25 01:10PM
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
-----Original Message-----
From: so_uwaifo@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:41:01
To: ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
Cc: Aasojo<aasojo@umn.edu>; Abiodun Raufu<abiodunraufu@yahoo.com>; Ade Ibiwoye<aodeleibiwoye@gmail.com>; Adebayo Lamikanra<adebayo.lamikanra@gmail.com>; adeyemi bukola oyeniyi<oyeniyib@gmail.com>; alade rotimi-john<rotimijohnandcompany@gmail.com>; Aladeniji Theo<itsblackbeauty624@yahoo.com>; Angela<aagoawike@yahoo.co.uk>; anujah@yahoo.com<anujah@yahoo.com>; ayoatse@yahoo.com<ayoatse@yahoo.com>; Ayodunmoye<ayodunmoye@yahoo.com>; Ayo obe<ayo_obe@yahoo.com>; attahirujega@yahoo.com<attahirujega@yahoo.com>; Bayo ninalowo<bayoninalowo@yahoo.co.uk>; bukkystars@yahoo.com<bukkystars@yahoo.com>; daleabiola@yahoo.com<daleabiola@yahoo.com>; dasylvang@yahoo.com<dasylvang@yahoo.com>; Dayansola<mdayansola@gmail.com>; Debo Adelaja<deboadelaja@yahoo.co.uk>; DOYIN AGUORU<doyinaguoru77@gmail.com>; Emevwo Biakolo<ebiakolo@smc.edu.ng>; Etannibi Alemika<alemikae@yahoo.com>; Feokonofua<feokonofua@yahoo.co.uk>; funmilegal@yahoo.com<funmilegal@yahoo.com>; Gokeke<gokeke@unilag.edu.ng>; Hafsat Abiola<hafsatabiola@hotmail.com>; Irene<irenepogoson@yahoo.com>; iwarae2006@yahoo.com<iwarae2006@yahoo.com>; Janet chima<talk2jane_4ryl@yahoo.com>; Jide Osuntokun<josuntokun@yahoo.com>; juliusihonvbere<juliusihonvbere@yahoo.com>; kosia@coppin.edu<kosia@coppin.edu>; olukotun bob-kunle<bobkunle@yahoo.com>; Ladipo Sasona<ladiposasona@yahoo.co.uk>; Lere Amusan<Lere.Amusan@nwu.ac.za>; maggie anaeto<maganaeto@yahoo.co.uk>; media world<mediaworldintl@yahoo.com>; mfaborode@yahoo.co.uk<mfaborode@yahoo.co.uk>; Michael Afolayan<mafolayan@yahoo.com>; Nedu<naduoyeyinka@hotmail.com>; Olabodex<olabodex@yahoo.com>; Olurode<olurode@yahoo.com>; Oluyinka Esan<Oluyinka.Esan@winchester.ac.uk>; Omatsola Edema<charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk>; omoadugbe@gmail.com<omoadugbe@gmail.com>; Oyebanke<oyebanke@gmail.com>; R-joseph<r-joseph@northwestern.edu>; Rotaben<rotaben@yahoo.com>; salawuabiodun@gmail.com<salawuabiodun@gmail.com>; segun babatope<segbuk5359@hotmail.com>; sharonomotoso@gmail.com<sharonomotoso@gmail.com>; sgegwu<sgegwu@yahoo.com>; Solomon Akinboye<solomon_akimboye@yahoo.com>; Funmi Soetan<funm_soetan@yahoo.com>; Taleomole<taleomole@yahoo.com>; tumoxoye<tumoxoye@gmail.com>; Tunde Ipinmisho<ipinmisho@gmail.com>; Tunde Oseni<tundeoseni@gmail.com>; Tunde Babawale<tunde_babawale@yahoo.com>; Wale Adebanwi<waleadebanwi@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Worsening governance and a social contract in flames
Thanks Professor Olukotun for sending this to me. I suspect that you included me in your distribution because you think I can contribute some sense on the issue of the Nigerian electric power situation. I will try, but before I do, a proverb is necessary. If you would butcher carrion, you cannot have fingers to scratch your body, if it itches. I noticed several carrion as I read through your comments. I wish you and Nigeria luck as we wade through the treacle without a political system that can help us through. Most Nigerian ethnic nations I know, live in families and within communities. I have been unable to understand how and why we think we can survive with a political system designed for those who believe and love to live as individuals. When we live as individuals, ignore communities and make our choices as to those we want to relate and deal with, others shout that we have acquired the culture of impunity. We have a huge problem, but let me talk about the one you think I might address more competently.
Nigeria's electric power supply industry is some 68 years old. Individual units of power supply were on for about five decades in a few places before government started the notion of a unified system, realized partially under the Nigerian Government Electricity Undertakings in 1946 and fully under the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria in 1951. As far as I am aware, though the industry continually changed names from NGEU to ECN and so on, hardly any change has occurred in Nigeria's electric power distribution philosophy. We operate a radial distribution system with no injection of new technologies, since they were first established.
Government has privatized the industry. Power stations, transmission systems and distribution zones are now owned by different bodies, all of which must act together before the product, electrical energy, can arrive where the consumer wants it. Buyers of the distribution zones are reflectors through which the consumer sees what is going on, but they are the tail-end of a complicate service and system. Others wag them. They can wag nothing.
It is folly for the industry and country to rely on one primary source of energy for their power needs. It is double folly to rely on gas. A power station powered by gas is a power supplier's dream. It is quick to start, it is clean, it is almost environmentally friendly. On the flip side, it is expensive, it can hardly be stored, it is as Nigeria can tell you, easily vandalized and the plants are short-lived. We have aging hydro-plants and others need development. It is simply tragic that we have failed to develop coal-fired plants, particularly in Kogi State where it practically sits on the surface of the ground. Coal can be stored. There are improved technologies to make it more friendly to the environment. No country in the world ever ignores its primary energy resources. Nigeria needs it for its base load generation.
It is absurd to expect that wrongs we willfully committed for about 60 years can be corrected in five months. If we will let them be, buyers of distribution zones would be expected to decide what distribution systems they want or if they would rehash extant systems, in Nigeria's circumstances. However, they too, have the enormous difficulties you wrote eloquently about to contend with. I wonder how much they will struggle given the distractions, which come from flustered individuals and communities, aided and abetted by incompetent comments in newspapers. When might we have specialist journalists to calm our nerves in this country? Thank you again.
Engr. S O Uwaifo.
Retired & former Area Manager, ECN, Kaduna
Author of Electric Power Distribution Planning & Development
Sent from my iPad
- Sam Amadi <samadi29@yahoo.com> Apr 25 06:13PM +0100
Engr Uwaifo,
Thanks for that poser. When do we have specialist journalists in Nigeria to clam our nerves or provide educated reflections on the present problems? I hope soon.
Sam Amadi
Sent from my iPad
- Chika Onyeani <afrstime@aol.com> Apr 25 01:46PM -0400
Recent Articles
More Than 20 Dead At Congo Music Festival
DAY BREAK AFRICA (4/25/14): THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS A PARTY OF RACISTS, WHY DENY IT?
WILL THE RELEASE OF ACCUSED COUP PLOTTERS STOP THE CARNAGE IN SOUTH SUDAN?
IS FORMER PRESIDENT ABDOULAYE WADE'S PLANE BEING DELAYED FOR POLITICAL REASONS?
IS THE MOVIE, "HALF OF A YELLOW SUN" STARRING CHIWETEL EJIOFOR AND AUTHORED BY CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE, BANNED IN NIGERIA?
The Vagina Is Becoming a Place to Hide Dangerous and Stolen High End Watches
Ted Cruz's Worst Nightmare Is Coming True: Obamacare is Working
Special Ed Teacher Accused Of Forcibly Performing Oral Sex On Student
How He Murdered His Millionaire Parents and Almost Got Away With It
- Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com> Apr 25 11:02AM -0400
My People:
Congratulations to all - in particular
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala profiled by Bono
http://time.com/70846/ngozi-okonjo-iweala-2014-time-100/
and
Dangote - profiled by Bill Gates
http://time.com/70903/aliko-dangote-2014-time-100/
Honorable mention are:
- Barack Obama
- Miley Cyrus
- Edward Snowden
- Hillary Clinton
- Steve McQueen
- Eric Holder
- Pope Francis
- Vladmir Putin
- Kim Jong On
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- John Kerry
- Angela Merkel and
- Jerry Brown
in no particular order.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
S/N
TIMES "THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE"
PROFILED BY
TITANS
1
Beyoncé
Sheryl Sandberg
2
Pony Ma
Arianna Huffington
3
Janet Yellen
Christine Lagarde
4
Tony Fadell
Yves Béhar
5
Sheika al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
Takashi Murakami
6
Pharrell Williams
Justin Timberlake
7,8
Evan Spiegel and Bob Murphy
Jack Dorsey
9
Jeff Bezos
Peter Thiel
10
Aliko Dangote
Bill Gates
http://time.com/70903/aliko-dangote-2014-time-100/
11
Serena Williams
Dwyane Wade
12
Ertharin Cousin
Rahm Emanuel
13,14
David Koch and Charles Koch
Karl Rove
15
Hillary Clinton
Malala Yousafzai
http://time.com/70904/hillary-clinton-2014-time-100/
PIONEERS
16
Jason Collins
Chelsea Clinton
17
Natalie Massenet
Jenna Lyons
18
Mary Jo White
Preet Bharara
19
Tom Steyer
Al Gore
20
Jack Ma
Michael Schuman
21
Richard Sherman
Sean Gregory
22
Alfonso Cuarón
J.J. Abrams
23
Megan Ellison
Jessica Chastain
24
Robert Lanza
Alice Park
25
Megyn Kelly
Brit Hume
26
Arvind Kejriwal
Rajdeep Sardesai
27
Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe
Forest Whitaker
28
John Kovac
Brian Greene
29
Travis Kalanick
Neil Patrick Harris
30
Jenji Kohan
Shonda Rhimes
31
Lydia Ko
Annika Sorenstam
32
Anat Admati
Rana Foroohar
33
Obadah al-Kaddri
Lara Setrakian
34
David Sinclair
David Agus
35
Kathryn Sullivan
John Glenn
36
José Mujica
Meghan McCain
37
Edward Snowden
Daniel Domscheit-Berg
http://time.com/70864/edward-snowden-2014-time-100/
38
Major General Herbert Raymond McMaster
Dave Barno
39,40,41
Imam Omar Kobine Layama, Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga and The Rev.
Nicolas Guérékoyame-Gbangou
Jim Wallis
42
Hosain Rahman
Matt Vella
43
Arunachalam Muruganantham
Ruchira Gupta
44
Katharine Hayhoe
Don Cheadle
ARTISTS
45
Benedict Cumberbatch
Colin Firth
46
Seth Meyers
Amy Poehler
47,48
Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Trey Parker and Matt Stone
49
Kerry Washington
Valerie Jarrett
50
Binyavanga Wainaina
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
51
Amy Adams
Emily Blunt
52
John Green
Shailene Woodley
53
Steve McQueen
Lupita Nyong'o
http://time.com/70807/steve-mcqueen-2014-time-100/
54, 55
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele
Judd Apatow
56
Diane Paulus
Audra McDonald
57
Robin Wright
Naomi Watts
58
Matthew McConaughey
Richard Linklater
59
Miley Cyrus
Dolly Parton
http://time.com/70803/miley-cyrus-2014-time-100/
60
Yao Chen
Hannah Beech
61
Barbara Brown Taylor
Elizabeth Dias
LEADERS
62
Mary Barra
Lee Iacocca
63
John Kerry
Hillary Clinton
http://time.com/70840/john-kerry-2014-time-100/
64
Vladimir Putin
Madeleine Albright
http://time.com/70855/vladimir-putin-2014-time-100/
65
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Bono
http://time.com/70846/ngozi-okonjo-iweala-2014-time-100/
66
Hassan Rouhani
Mohamed ElBaradei
67
Scott Walker
Chris Christie
68
Ory Okolloh
Esther Dyson
69
Shinzo Abe
Jack Lew
70
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi
Ayman Mohyeldin
71
Xi Jinping
Jon Huntsman
72
Barack Obama
Joe Klein
http://time.com/70836/barack-obama-2014-time-100/
73
Withelma "T" Ortiz Walker Pettigrew
Ricky Martin
74
Narendra Modi
Fareed Zakaria
75
Eric Holder
John Lewis
http://time.com/70837/eric-holder-2014-time-100/
76
Michelle Bachelet
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
77
Andrew Haldane
John Cassidy
78
Angela Merkel
Jürgen Klinsmann
http://time.com/70835/angela-merkel-2014-time-100/
79
Jerry Brown
Gray Davis
http://time.com/70839/jerry-brown-2014-time-100/
80
Thuli Madonsela
Lamido Sanusi
81
Rand Paul
Mitch McConnell
82
Kirsten Gillibrand
Alfonse D'Amato
83
Nicolás Maduro
Nikhil Kumar
84
Abdullah Gul
Elif Shafak
85
Kim Jong Un
Adam Johnson
http://time.com/70841/kim-jong-un-2014-time-100/
86
Abu Du'a [a.k.a. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]
Frank Kearney
ICONS
87
Robert Redford
Harvey Weinstein
http://time.com/70828/robert-redford-2014-time-100/
88
Erwiana Sulistyaningsih
Somaly Mam
89
Pope Francis
Barack Obama
http://time.com/70826/pope-francis-2014-time-100/
90
Malala Yousafzai
Gabrielle Giffords
91
Donna Tartt
Ann Patchett
92
Arundhati Roy
Pankaj Mishra
93
Christy Turlington Burns
Melinda Gates
94
Carrie Underwood
Brad Paisley
95
Phoebe Philo
Stella McCartney
96
Charlie Rose
Michael Bloomberg
97
Alice Waters
Ruth Reichl
98
Marina Abramovic
James Franco
99
Cristiano Ronaldo
Pelé
http://time.com/70818/cristiano-ronaldo-2014-time-100/
100
Carl Icahn
T. Boone Pickens
- Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com> Apr 25 02:47PM -0400
JUI:
So many questions, so few answers.
I am still trying to figure out why your name was left out at the last
minute. Explanation for mine was that I am Number 101.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
On Friday, April 25, 2014, Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID) <jbi8@cdc.gov>
wrote:
> VC-B,
> JUI is just wondering about two issues here:
> 1. Is the list of names in each category in any order of influence,
importance etc?
> 2. Its surprising that iconic time-tested Royalties and people are
absent [Queen Liz; Japan Emperor, Warren Buffet, Ted Turner, Bill Cosby,
Stephen Hawkins etc];
> 3. What happens when influential leaders leave office…….they
diminish in influence? If not, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton,
Boutros-Boutros Gali/Kofi Anan [former UN SG]
> Take care. JUI
> From: naijaintellects@googlegroups.com [mailto:
naijaintellects@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mobolaji Aluko
> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2014 11:02 AM
> To: USAAfrica Dialogue; NaijaPolitics e-Group; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com;
naijaintellects; OmoOdua; ekiti ekitigroups; Ra'ayi; Yan Arewa; NiDAN
> Subject: [Naijaintellects] STAR LIST: Times "The 100 Most Influential
People"
> Congratulations to all - in particular
> Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala profiled by Bono
http://time.com/70846/ngozi-okonjo-iweala-2014-time-100/
> and
> Dangote - profiled by Bill Gates
http://time.com/70903/aliko-dangote-2014-time-100/
- ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com Apr 25 02:12AM
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
-----Original Message-----
From: standithlord jahsown <sjahsown@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 10:28:53
To: <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
Subject: WORSENING GOVERNANCE AND A SOCIAL CONTRACT IN FLAMES
- John Mbaku <jmbaku@weber.edu> Apr 25 07:52AM -0600
What is this "social contract" that the author talks about? Who are the
parties to this contract? When did Nigerians come together, had a "meeting
pf the minds," and concluded this social contract? I hope this is not a
reference to the military-imposed Nigerian Constitution of 1999.
On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:12 PM, ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com via USA Africa
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
*JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)Graduate Certificate in
Environmental and Natural Resources Law Nonresident Senior Fellow, The
Brookings InstitutionAttorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)Brady
Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & Willard L. Eccles
Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow Department of
EconomicsWeber State University3807 University CircleOgden, UT 84408-3807,
USA(801) 626-7442 Phone(801) 626-7423 Fax*
- Okey Iheduru <okeyiheduru@gmail.com> Apr 25 12:01PM -0700
John:
Don't worry yourself. This is the kind of all-too-familiar vacuous,
farcical and arrant nonsense that some of our "P-r-o-o-o-o-fs" dish out to
students and the general public in Nigeria. And, you wonder why policy
makers don't take us seriously.
Okey
--
*Okey Iheduru, PhD**You can access some of my papers on the Social Science
Research Network (SSRN) at: http://ssrn.com/author=2131462
<http://ssrn.com/author=2131462>.*
- African Writers Endowment <africanwriters@gmail.com> Apr 25 10:43AM -0400
*THE AFRICAN WRITERS ENDOWMENT, INC.*
Cordially Request the Pleasure of Your Presence and/or Support
At the Launching and Book Signing of
*I SAW THE SKY FALL*
An African Children's Literature
By Dr. Ugorji O. Ugorji
*DATE:* Saturday, April 26, 2014
*TIME:* 2 p.m.
*VENUE:* The Courtyard of Casa-La-Uche
97 Eastgate Lane, Willingboro, New Jersey 08046
Launching donations may be made to:
*African Writers Endowment, Inc.*
(A Non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting Writers)
The courtesy of an RSVP is requested by April 18, 2014
(609) 851-9484 <%28609%29%20851-9484>
*Please see attached document*
--
Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji
Executive Director
African Writers Endowment, Inc.
(609) 851-9484
- Oluwatoyin Adepoju <toyinifadante@gmail.com> Apr 25 03:39PM +0100
**
*
Strategies of Scholarly Depth and Range *
*
Ogo Ofuani on Okot p'Bitek *
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Ogo Ofuani, Uniben Eng/Lit Dept and the Vision of Inspiring
Teaching<https://www.facebook.com/groups/239114619545971/>
Facebook Group
A Division of Compcros <http://danteadinkra.wix.com/compcros>
Comparative Cognitive Processes and Systems
"Exploring Every
Corner of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"
A strategy by which scholars achieve depth and range in relation to a
subject is that of exploring various aspects of the subject in a sequence
of scholarly essays, often published in academic journals.
Two examples strike me in this regard with particular reference to their
signifinace for the Nigerian and other African contexts in which article
rather than book publication is the norm in academic culture.
One is that of Alexis Sanderson <http://www.alexissanderson.com>, Spalding
Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at the University of Oxford,
whose lengthy
and detailed articles on the Saivite school of
Hinduism<http://www.alexissanderson.com/publications.html>are a point
of reference in scholarship in the field, in an academic
culture where book publishing is a norm and in which he seems not to have
published any book.
I am struck by the scope of Sanderson's achievement using the essay method
alone.
The other is Ogo Ofuani <http://www.uniben.edu/professor-ogo-ofuani>,
Professor of Stylistics in the Department of English and Literature at the
University of Benin, whose research has focused on the writer Okot p'Bitek
in articles spanning several
years<https://www.facebook.com/groups/239114619545971/>[links
to some of Ofuani's works] in which he examines various dimensions of the
achievement of Okot p'Bitek, particularly in terms of the relationship
between language and meaning, in an academic culture in which book
publication is not a norm, but in which Ofuani has been able to provide an
apprehension of a subject in multifaceted detail through essays alone.
I am struck by Ofuani's dogged focus on a particular writer, thereby
providing depth that might not otherwise be possible except in a thorough,
full length book.
What is the conceptual and analytical scope of Ofuani's exploration of Okot
p'Bitek?
Can this scope be correlated with his other publications, on Nigerian
Pidgin English, perhaps thereby distilling a perspective on linguistic
creativity in various contexts, perhaps in relation to the tension between
cultural authenticity and new means of social existence at times
highlighted by Okot p'Bitek's work?
What is the significance of Ofuani's and Sanderson's strategy of focus
on articles instead of books in relation to the Nigerian and other African
contexts in which academic book publication is still at an embryonic stage?
What are the implications of Ofuani's focus on publication in some of the
most prestigious Western journals in his field in relation to his location
in Nigeria, and in Africa, in particular?
A foundation for exploring these questions, the significance of which
resonates broadly across cultures of learning all over the world, is being
laid at the
Ogo Ofuani, Uniben Eng/Lit Dept and the Vision of Inspiring
Teaching<https://www.facebook.com/groups/239114619545971/> Facebook
group through the building of a complete Ofuani publication bibliography.
Contributions on these questions, which may or may not relate to the
particular scholars mentioned here, are invited and most welcome.
Also posted in
Ogo Ofuani, Uniben Eng/Lit Dept and the Vision of Inspiring
Teaching<http://ofuanienlituniben.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/strategies-of-scholarly-depth-and-range.html>
blog
Facebook Notes <https://www.facebook.com/notes/oluwatoyin-vincent-adepoju/strategies-of-scholarly-depth-and-range-ogo-ofuani-on-okot-pbitek/10152086119294103>
- Cornelius Hamelberg <corneliushamelberg@gmail.com> Apr 25 10:00AM -0700
*This is post-1984: Sweden: 2014: Two headlines: "Nigerian cut up by
Kärrtorp Nazis" – "Afro-Swedes are exposed to more hatred than before"*<http://www.thelocal.se/blogs/corneliushamelberg/?p=17779>
- Oluwatoyin Adepoju <toyinifadante@gmail.com> Apr 25 04:02PM +0100
Apologies for reposting.
The previous post had serious formatting problems.
*
Strategies
of Scholarly Depth and Range *
*
Ogo Ofuani on Okot p'Bitek*
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
Ogo Ofuani, Uniben Eng/Lit
Dept and the Vision of
Inspiring<https://www.facebook.com/groups/239114619545971/>
Teaching
Facebook Group
A Division of Compcros <http://danteadinkra.wix.com/compcros>
Comparative
Cognitive Processes and Systems
"Exploring Every Corner
of the Cosmos in Search of Knowledge"
A strategy by which scholars achieve depth and range in relation to a
subject is that of exploring various aspects of the subject in a sequence
of scholarly essays, often published in academic journals.
Two examples strike me in this regard with particular reference to their
signifinace for the Nigerian and other African contexts in which article
rather than book publication is the norm in academic culture.
One is that of Alexis Sanderson <https://www.facebook.com/groups/oponifa/#>,
Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at the University of
Oxford, whose lengthy and detailed articles on the Saivite school of
Hinduism <https://www.facebook.com/groups/oponifa/#> are a point of
reference in scholarship in the field, in an academic culture where book
publishing is a norm and in which he seems not to have published any book.
I am struck by the scope of Sanderson's achievement using the essay method
alone.
The other is Ogo Ofuani <https://www.facebook.com/groups/oponifa/#>,
Professor of Stylistics in the Department of English and Literature at the
University of Benin, whose research has focused on the writer Okot p'Bitek
in articles spanning several
years<https://www.facebook.com/groups/oponifa/#>[links
to some of Ofuani's works] in which he examines various dimensions of the
achievement of Okot p'Bitek, particularly in terms of the relationship
between language and meaning, in an academic culture in which book
publication is not a norm, but in which Ofuani has been able to provide an
apprehension of a subject in multifaceted detail through essays alone.
I am struck by Ofuani's dogged focus on a particular writer, thereby
providing depth that might not otherwise be possible except in a thorough,
full length book.
What is the conceptual and analytical scope of Ofuani's exploration of Okot
p'Bitek?
Can this scope be correlated with his other publications, on Nigerian
Pidgin English, perhaps thereby distilling a perspective on linguistic
creativity in various contexts, perhaps in relation to the tension between
cultural authenticity and new means of social existence at times
highlighted by Okot p'Bitek's work?
What is the significance of Ofuani's and Sanderson's strategy of focus
on articles instead of books in relation to the Nigerian and other African
contexts in which academic book publication is still at an embryonic stage?
What are the implications of Ofuani's focus on publication in some of the
most prestigious Western journals in his field in relation to his location
in Nigeria, and in Africa, in particular?
A foundation for exploring these questions, the significance of which
resonates broadly across cultures of learning all over the world, is being
laid at the
Ogo Ofuani, Uniben Eng/Lit Dept and the Vision of Inspiring
Teaching<https://www.facebook.com/groups/oponifa/#> Facebook
group through the building of a complete Ofuani publication bibliography.
Contributions on these questions, which may or may not relate to the
particular scholars mentioned here, are invited and most welcome.
Also posted in
Ogo Ofuani, Uniben Eng/Lit Dept and the Vision of Inspiring
Teaching<https://www.facebook.com/groups/oponifa/#>
blog
Facebook Notes<https://www.facebook.com/notes/oluwatoyin-vincent-adepoju/strategies-of-scholarly-depth-and-range-ogo-ofuani-on-okot-pbitek/10152086119294103>
- EUGENE NWOSU <eugenenwosu201@hotmail.com> Apr 25 10:21AM +0100
"Happiness and high performance come to you when you
choose to live your life consistent with your highest values and your deepest
convictions."
– Brian Tracy
Love & Best Wishes, always; positively:
http://optimaledge101.blogspot.com.au/
www.strategicbookpublishing.com/OptimalEdge.html
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cut-Your-Own-Firewood-Ultimate/dp/1419654233/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332231731&sr=1-1
https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
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