USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Moderator's caution

SIR Toyin:

Well said, sagacious Moderator! Many thanks in seeking a truce among our quarrelling (or squabbling) intellectual colleagues!

What I, however, find interesting is that hardly do we see a Nigerian writer quarrelling with a Ghanaian or a Liberian writer in USA-Dialogue postings. instead, it is often hard and hot feelings between (or among) Nigerian brothers and sisters! I find that both comical and, also, very interesting. The entire scenario brings me back to Baba Ijebu, my old sagacious Yoruba Landlord, whose education was not very high by today's standards, yet I found him to be very profound and wise!

For example, Baba Ijebu looked at then Nigeria's East Central States' Administrator Anthony Ukpabi Asika and his quarrels with Biafran leaders, and also with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. That was when MR. Asika arrogantly told Biafra: "Biafra, enough is enough"; and also, he disrespectfully told Dr. Azikiwe that he (Asika) was tired of "I am an 'ex this', and an 'ex that'." As many of you may still remember today, Dr. Azikiwwe furiously described Asika as being a "gutter-snipe" (?), and further referring to Asika's position under General Yakubu Gowon's regime, the former Nigerian President said to Asika: "No condition is permanent". Surely enough, MR. Asika soon became the "Ex-Administrator"!

As I also recall, Baba Ijebu asked me at the time when we were enjoying a delicious okra soup, laced with smoked fish (salmon), over eba: "Baba Ghana, do you know the problem with my fellow Nigerians?" I jumped to a quick conclusion by saying that it was tribalism! Baba Ijebu disagreed!!

Baba Ijebu looked at me comically, and he responded: "Na, where? Tribalism? No. The real problem is 'book long', too much education among Nigerians ..."

I know that if my sagacious Baba Ijebu were in our midst, looking at the back-and-forth insults in the Dialogue postings (which prompted a "spanking" from our peace-loving Moderator) his own posting would have: "Why worry your heard about what someone else's is saying in a posting? Na these posting's we dey chop?"

Therefore, let us keep on smiling at whatever others say, offer lively debates and, indeed, move on; otherwise, as a famous literary sage once said: "If you do not like my story, write your own."

A.B. Assensoh.
________________________________________
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2017 8:26 AM
To: dialogue
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Moderator's caution

Folks should not insult one another over scholarly disagreements.

Identity politics generate acrimonies and bitterness. Indeed, where identity politics are intense people have made up their minds before you say or write anything. Data and the interpretations are not neutral.

I also understand that where there is no consensus on narratives, people can talk endlessly as they create their own narratives and views. Mythologies also arise.

Clashes in ontologies are normal. Ontological excesses are common in plural societies.

What is not normal is for adults to insult themselves.

Create ontologies and mythologies as many as the human minds can produce but don't abuse one another.
TF

Sent from my iPhone

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