Unfortunately, I have not read the original contribution. I just want to mention a point that is often neglected or given only cursory treatment in many of the academic articles and books that have attempted to critique Nkrumah's intellectual and political contributions to Africa and Africans--both at home and in the Diaspora. That point is Nkrumah's and Ghana's (under Nkrumah) contributions to the liberation movement in Africa--Nkrumah's (and to a certain Ghana's under his rule) work on behalf of Africa's liberation movements put him (and Ghana) at odds internationally with many Western countries. Anyone familiar with the independence struggle in Cameroon is quite aware of the importance of the Nkrumah regime in supporting the main anti-colonial group in Cameroon, which had been proscribed by the French in 1955 and many of its leaders assassinated and others pushed into exile to, well you guess it, Ghana and countries such as Bulgaria and the PRC, with the held of the Ghanaian regime. Nkrumah also opened what was then University College Cape Coast to a lot of students from Cameroon, usually on full scholarship. Need I say more?
One needs to be careful when reading critiques of Nkrumah and other progressive African leaders written by scholars who were highly influenced by the political economy of the Cold War. Consider the fact that some of these scholars actually considered Mobutu a more effective leader for Congo (DRC) than Patrice Lumumba.
On Fri, Apr 24, 2015 at 1:35 AM, Kwabena Akurang-Parry <kaparry@hotmail.com> wrote:
--ALI MUFURUKI'S perspectives on Kwame Nkrumah is at best anecdotal and at worst a laundry list of propaganda. That is bad history. None of Mufuruki's anti-Nkrumah bulleted positions attempts to explain Nkrumah's actions and the postcolonial forces, including local, continental and global, that shaped Nkrumah's worldviews, policies, and initiatives as well as his navigation of the preexisting rugged colonial political landscape.
MUFURUKI'S neo-history at one level is reminiscent of the savage demonizing parodies that were unleashed by the detractors of Nkrumah especially during his overthrow in 1966. At another level, Mufuruki's neo-historical craft is nothing less than an awkward cinematic storyline that seeks to cosmetically rework history without historicizing frameworks.
WRITING about Nkrumah is not so much about one's capacity to host myriad facts of the past and its coterminous present. Rather, it is more so about one's faculty to unpack the layers of such facts, including context, chronology, prosopography, and comparative settings. In applying these, historians use nuance, not howling and lopsided laundry lists of some selected viewpoints. In fact, to write about Nkrumah, one has to ponder Nkrumah's career as an evolutionary sweep that generated concentric circles of revolutions in the crucible of decolonization in Africa.
SUMMONING Nkrumah's faults does not reduce the enduring vitality of his peerless achievements. And this is one area where Mufuruki should have used comparative lenses of history to benefit his conclusions. Yes, Nkrumah had his faults and failings, but his achievements eclipse his faults and when juxtaposed with those of other Ghanaian/African leaders, his achievements remain one of our best postcolonial moments of excellence.
Kwabena Akurang-Parry
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 16:38:54 +0000
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
To: wanazuoni@yahoogroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Ali Mufuruki's Fiery Critique of Nkrumah and Pan-AfricanismFYI: Ali Mufuruki is not a member of Wanazuoni so if you want your response to reach him copy his email address:
From: A. A. Mufuruki <alimufuruki@infotech.co.tz>
To: [...]
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 6:22 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: [Wanazuoni] Ali Mufuruki's Fiery Critique of Nkrumah and Pan-Africanism
AllHaving received largely positive and supportive feedback from many quarters, it is my duty to share with you some of the rather negative reactions to my speech in the interest of balance.As I said in the lecture, I went into this assignment well aware of the risks involved and am also aware of the fact that Nkrumah is and will remain one of the most beloved Africans of all time.Just to provide some context: The lecture was introduced by a presentation from President Thabo Mbeki, a well known and respected Pan Africanist and admirer of Kwame Nkrumah, and the discussant of my lecture was none other than Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi of Algeria (former UN Envoy for Syria) who among others, attended the OAU Summits of 1964 and 1965 and knew Nkrumah personally. He too is an admirer of Nkrumah's record as a leader and Pan Africanism pioneer.The audience was treated to both sides of this important story and as Tana Forum Chairman said, they heard the good, the bad and the ugly about African heroism and how it is documented in our history.The main purpose of the lecture obviously is to see if there are any lessons we can take from the most recent history of the Pan Africanism movement and its various leaders of which Nkrumah was one in the late fifties and early sixtiesSo, the blowback was expected and should be encouraged as part of a healthy intellectual debate on African issues.My only regret is that some commentators found it more expedient to attack my person rather than the content of my lecture, but that too is part of what should be expected, I suppose.Please see the email thread below including comments from some of our very own intellectualsMaybe there is still some room to debate this issue some more.Please feel free to express yourselfBestAAMCell : +255 784 311 841Web: www.infotech.co.tz-------- Original message --------From: seppy NYANG'ORO <jsnyangoro@gmail.com>Date:21/04/2015 01:08 (GMT-05:00)Subject: Re: [Wanazuoni] Ali Mufuruki's Fiery Critique of Nkrumah and Pan-AfricanismLGF,Tell it like it is.Ali Mufuruki descended from his studies in Germany with nothing but benefited from plucking the low hanging fruit in Tanzania. And instead of shutting his mouth and continue to enjoy the undeserved prominence, the man is now biting the hand that fed him.It's truly disgusting that he feels bold enough to criticize the likes of Nkrumah simply because he was awarded a fellowship in Aspen, Colorado where he spent time listening to Walter Isaacson and the rest of know-it-all American wanna-be's.Echoing what EM has said, it is easier to destroy than to build. I personally don't care much for people bent into destroying what has already been built through sweat and sacrifice.Tell me what you think you could do to improve the livelihood of wananchi today. And i would listen.Seppy
Sent from my iPhone. Typos possible
On Apr 20, 2015, at 23:00, George Fumbuka fumbuka1953@gmail.com [Wanazuoni] <Wanazuoni@yahoogroups.com> wrote:Well, with all due respect, I don't see how Mfuruki can criticise Nkrumah on anything. Nkrumah was experimenting in unfamiliar conditions. He did what he could best as he thought.Ali Mfuruki sold Air Tanzania to SAA single-handedly for 30 pieces of silver. Is this the man? What has he to say about this? Who sent him to this meeting?I still don't have the courage to read what he says about the Osagyefo, honestly.Mwambalule,
Lukani HaiThink big. Begin small. Begin now.Yes. He is the one and onlyOn Apr 20, 2015, at 22:26, George Fumbuka fumbuka1953@gmail.com [Wanazuoni] <Wanazuoni@yahoogroups.com> wrote:Bwana Muganda: sahamani lakini, nauliza tu. Huyu Ali Mfuruki ni Mfuruki yupi, ni yule yule aliyeuza Air Tanzania? Please say no.Mwambalule,Lukani Hai.Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 20, 2015, at 10:22 PM, "seppy NYANG'ORO jsnyangoro@gmail.com [Wanazuoni]" <Wanazuoni@yahoogroups.com> wrote:Ali,Your analysis of Nkrumah's failings is what is commonly referred to as an 'armchair' criticism. It's a bird's eye view which is completely anecdotal and devoid of contextual underpinnings. It's also fair to describe it as an act of intellectual laziness to project Nkrumah's life and times using a rear view mirror.Obviously, you must not be a student of history. Even if you took a cursory examination of the history of post-colonialism worldwide, let alone Africa, you'll realize that the the European colonial masters where heavily invested in the subdue and subjugation policies of the new post-independent nation-states. Be it Indian sub-continent, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia or Latin America and the Caribbean.Put aside Nkrumah for a moment. I think the Tanzanian case has many similarities to that of Ghana, with an exception of the fact that in Tanzania there never occurred a successful coup d'état. Nyerere had to employ those dreaded sedition laws from time to time just to curb what would have been a runaway open hostility towards him. So would you characterize Mwalimu as a failed dictator?Before we get carried away with your uninformed opinions, perhaps the fundamental question is what were your objectives in your futile attempt at shooting down Nkrumah? Are you trying to ascribe pan-Africanism problems to the man? Or are you trying to suggest new ways of forging ahead, completely discarding Nkrumah's contribution? And why exactly do you need to put down the man, before you could introduce new ideas of your own? Or is it that you don't know any better but feel good about yourself by disparaging a man who fought for his convictions.Bwana Mufuruki tafadhali naomba tuache huu wivu wa kike. Andika na wewe vitabu vyako ukikosoa falsafa ya Nkrumah na kutueleza yako.There's introspection and nothingness. I'm afraid yours is the later.Always,Seppy
Sent from my iPhone. Typos possible
On Apr 20, 2015, at 19:45, Chambi Chachage chambi78@yahoo.com [Wanazuoni] <Wanazuoni@yahoogroups.com> wrote:FYI: Read the 3 background emails from the author below and copy alimufuruki@infotech.co.tz when responding:---AllI am attaching a lecture I delivered two days ago at the Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.There were more than 10 current and former African heads of states in the audience.The key message of this lecture was directed not only at historians but also at current and future leaders of AfricaI got a sense it was timely and well received given the reaction that ensuedEnjoyAAM---TDRI thank you so much for your feedback. Words alone cannot capture how much I appreciate the sincerity of your feedback and also the valuable challenges you pose to me.As I said in the speech, I am only an itinerant ideas man, commenting on what I am observing as a dangerous tendency on our part as Africans to rewrite history and in the process lose the priceless lessons that only history can offer mankind.I agree, Nkrumah is but one of the many Africans whose place in history requires rigorous scrutiny. My turn to be judged will come too if I ever attain enough significance to warrant it and it is precisely because I am conscious of that eventuality that I am raising the bar for all, myself included.I have a sense that this speech has started a conversation about many things including the importance we attach to good leadership in AfricaI was happy when both President Obasanjo and Festus Mogae stood up and said, "time has come for Africa to engage in brutal self criticism, we must end the personality cult and raise the standard for good leadership" (Mogae) and "Africa must engage in the vital free exchange of ideas including those we may not like because for me, today's lecture is one of those rare things I am going to take with me back home and learn from" (Obasanjo)There were many others who commented on the same vein and interestingly, not a single person opposed the essence of what I said during the heated plenary discussion that ensued after the lecture.I am very happy with that outcome at least.I know also that quite a few people have been offended and hurt by what comes across as a rather strident attack on Nkrumah's person.This was not my intention and I caveated my statements as much in the speech.Having said that and with the benefit of hindsight, I concede that it was tough, maybe a too tough but ultimately necessary. Time will tell.Once again thank you and best regardsAAM---CCPlease share widely and I appreciate any feedback you can getAAM---__._,_.___
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JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & 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 Economics
Weber State University
1337 Edvalson Street, Dept. 3807
Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
(801) 626-7442 Phone
(801) 626-7423 Fax
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & 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 Economics
Weber State University
1337 Edvalson Street, Dept. 3807
Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
(801) 626-7442 Phone
(801) 626-7423 Fax
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
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