Folks:
In my mind, the confraternity among the supernatural, human, success, failure, etc., etc does not constitute any form of contradiction. They are NOT mutually exclusive - not at all! Yes, Dr. Emeagwali, I strongly don't believe that anyone could not "apply historiographical analysis and scholarly criticism to any (and all) of the 12 books" of Falola because the author claims having derived inspiration from God. I am 100% sure of this because even the bible (said to be written by "inspired men of God") is, and has always been, subjected to heavy scholarly scrutiny - in fact, there is a field specifically designed for that, and scholars like Friedrich Schleiermecher, David Srauss, etc., devoted all their lifetimes doing so, let alone works done that are ascribed to God as the author's source of energy.
Let us face it: it takes a superior Source for anyone to garner the needed energy to work for 12 hours at a stretch day-in-day-out, as Alagba Dauda has cited Falola saying of his work habit. It takes a superior Source to work on and produce a dozen books in one year and more than 120 so far in a young life. If there is no superior power driving TF, then, we should all deify and worship him; after all, even the entire bible comprises of only 66 books. If a man who stands 100 shoulders higher than the rest identifies the source of his uniqueness to a Power, who are we to question him? He could have declared that his inspirations are derived from any one of a million and one other sources, but he chose one. Excuse my cliché, but we cannot know the proverbial mother of the mythical Esho more than Esho himself, as my people would always say at such a time as this.
Yes, individuals, including Toyin Falola, are free to identify with their own source/s of energy and inspiration - God, self, the 401 deities of the Yoruba, human heroes, saints, etc., etc. But if Dr. Falola says it is God, I agree with him, and I am happy for him; even the astronaut John Glenn, pointed to the same source. We are not engaging in some ontological argument here, and if we do, it's too late because many of those within the narrow oasis of true intellectual success have anchored their Source to a superior power, God, most of the time; and we cannot and dare not question them. If the man (Falola) had said God wrote those 12 books for him, I would start to have a problem because that is going into the realm of the illusionary metaphysics, but that is not the case here. Anyone who ascribes his or her own success to anything other than a superior source, already has a problem of, and with, the said success. It is called a delusion of grandeur - megalomania of the highest order. That TF attributed his success to God is, in my mind, the secret of his success and the reason why the sky is too low to define his limit. This is why many, myself included, will always see him as a man of honor and superior intellect.
Three of my favorite quotes ascribed to Albert Einstein are:
"Behind all the discernible concatenations, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force is my religion. To that extent, I am in point of fact, religious."
"Every scientist becomes convinced that the laws of nature manifest the existence of a spirit vastly superior to that of men."
"Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science (knowledge) becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe – a spirit vastly superior to that of man.
I have nothing else to add. Mr. Einstein has said it, all. Thanks for listening.
I've got to go. I have seven hours to drive up wintery north. Until 2017, please have a great rest of 2016 and may 2017 be another year of harvest, not only for Oloye Falola, but for all of us.
My gift to you for 2017 is wrapped in this famous essay of one of my favorite humans that ever passed through this way, the legendary Tai Solarin, "May Your Road Be Rough This Year" (https://www.facebook.com/notes/segun-fadipe/may-your-road-be-rough-by-tai-solarin1922-1994/648164028546033/).
Michael O. Afolayan
From the Land of Lincoln . . .
On Thursday, December 29, 2016 11:45 PM, "Emeagwali, Gloria (History)" <emeagwali@ccsu.edu> wrote:
I agree with Prof. Babawale completely. Professor Falola is inspirational. Prof. Olukoton indeed fashioned the perfect letter.
That Falola is Man of the Year is indisputable. I must confess though that initially, I got a bit nervous, at the statement
that the work was the product of God, or something to that effect:
"The glory is not mine. All that is mine is how God works in me."
I was worried for two reasons.
Firstly, if the work was the product of God and perhaps, by implication, of divine inspiration, then how would anyone dare to apply
historiographical analysis and scholarly criticism to any of the 12 books. They would be, collectively, beyond all forms of evaluation
and assessment. Only renegades and fools would dare to do book reviews, or write critical assessments - critical activities that
academics are prone to do for new publications.
Secondly, claims about divine intervention or inspiration are often followed by the creation of a religion
of some sort - with an "inspired" religious leader at the helm. This is the stuff of which saints and other divine
intermediaries are made.
But then I realized that my interpretation of the statement was too literal, and even erroneous. The professor
simply meant that he was thanking God for giving him the strength to produce the works in question. It is a statement
that atheists and even agnostics may challenge - but pretty much captures the overall spirit of gratitude that Believers
share- no matter their religion or faith. No problem with that. No cause for alarm.
We look forward to the harvest of 2017. May 2017 be a wonderful year for us all.
Professor Gloria Emeagwali
Professor of History
History Department
History Department
Central Connecticut State University
From: 'Olatunde_Babawale' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 5:08 PM
To: ayo_olukotun via USA Africa Dialogue Series; USAAfricaDialogue
Cc: toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu; adebayow@hotmail.com; adigunagbaje@yahoo.com; amomoh2002@yahoo.com; aolukoju2002@yahoo.com; ayodunmoye@yahoo.com; babsowoeye@gmail.com; bangura@unrisd.org; boyeyinka@hotmail.com; chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com; Ebunoluwa Oduwole; falanalagos@yahoo.com; fawolew@yahoo.com; hafsatabiola@hotmail.com; jumoyin@yahoo.co.uk; lajinadu@yahoo.com; mojubaolu@gmail.com; medaton@yahoo.com; mvickers@mvickers.plus.com; olukoshi@yahoo.com; osaghaeeghosa@yahoo.co.uk; paddykay2002@yahoo.com; profbayo_adekanye@yahoo.com; r-joseph@northwestern.edu; rotaben@yahoo.com; salawuabiodun@yahoo.com; toksx@yahoo.com; waleadebanwi@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fw: column
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2016 5:08 PM
To: ayo_olukotun via USA Africa Dialogue Series; USAAfricaDialogue
Cc: toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu; adebayow@hotmail.com; adigunagbaje@yahoo.com; amomoh2002@yahoo.com; aolukoju2002@yahoo.com; ayodunmoye@yahoo.com; babsowoeye@gmail.com; bangura@unrisd.org; boyeyinka@hotmail.com; chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com; Ebunoluwa Oduwole; falanalagos@yahoo.com; fawolew@yahoo.com; hafsatabiola@hotmail.com; jumoyin@yahoo.co.uk; lajinadu@yahoo.com; mojubaolu@gmail.com; medaton@yahoo.com; mvickers@mvickers.plus.com; olukoshi@yahoo.com; osaghaeeghosa@yahoo.co.uk; paddykay2002@yahoo.com; profbayo_adekanye@yahoo.com; r-joseph@northwestern.edu; rotaben@yahoo.com; salawuabiodun@yahoo.com; toksx@yahoo.com; waleadebanwi@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fw: column
This piece by Prof Ayo Olukotun is a testimony to the reward of hard work which Prof Falola personifies.
Prof Falola's incomparable intellectual achievements remain a source of inspiration to us all.
He is a man in whom we are well pleased.
Thank you Prof Olukotun for the characteristically well-crafted piece.
Tunde Babawale
Department of Political Science
University of Lagos
Lagos
Nigeria
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
| From: ayo_olukotun via USA Africa Dialogue Series Sent: Thursday, 29 December 2016 10:11 PM To: USAAfricaDialogue Reply To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com Cc: toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu; adebayow@hotmail.com; adigunagbaje@yahoo.com; amomoh2002@yahoo.com; aolukoju2002@yahoo.com; ayodunmoye@yahoo.com; babsowoeye@gmail.com; bangura@unrisd.org; boyeyinka@hotmail.com; chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com; Ebunoluwa Oduwole; falanalagos@yahoo.com; fawolew@yahoo.com; hafsatabiola@hotmail.com; jumoyin@yahoo.co.uk; lajinadu@yahoo.com; mojubaolu@gmail.com; medaton@yahoo.com; mvickers@mvickers.plus.com; olukoshi@yahoo.com; osaghaeeghosa@yahoo.co.uk; paddykay2002@yahoo.com; profbayo_adekanye@yahoo.com; r-joseph@northwestern.edu; rotaben@yahoo.com; salawuabiodun@yahoo.com; toksx@yahoo.com; waleadebanwi@yahoo.com Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Fw: column |
U
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
| From: orogun olanike <dam_nik@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, 29 December 2016 12:35 To: Ayo Olukotun Reply To: dam_nik@yahoo.com Subject: Fw: column |
On Thu, Dec 29, 2016 at 1:21 PM, Ibini Olaide<ibini_olaide@yahoo.com> wrote:
On Thu, Dec 29, 2016 at 1:20 PM, Ibini Olaide<ibini_olaide@yahoo.com> wrote:
On Thu, Dec 29, 2016 at 1:17 PM, Ibini Olaide<ibini_olaide@yahoo.com> wrote:
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