If this "evil thinking" of one to the oppressing other was confined to the poor and frustratingly disenfranchised - maybe also episodically turning such evil thinking and deeds on each other - what explains the relatively well-off doing the same to each other?
My experience working for the first time for an extended period of time as an adult in Nigeria is that Nigerians can be frighteningly wicked to each other, just for no real reason - and that cuts across class, ethnicity and religion. No society has a flat advantage structure, and making a demon out of every boss or successful person is dangerous. A nation cannot progress with such a level of ill-will between its citizens. We must re-learn to love each other, warts and all.
And there you have it.
Bolaji Aluko
On Thursday, November 2, 2017, 'Adeshina Afolayan' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
--The kind of evil thinking and wishing you identified must also be placed within the context of the helplessness that confronts those who have been transfixed by what Mbembe called the banality of power. Poverty has made Nigerians so helpless that they offset their impotent rage through incessant curses and especially rejoicing over the misfortunes of those who hold them in thrall by their offensive, and indeed obscene wealth. I suspect that even those who are so religious would secretly be happy that 'the rich also cry", and feel the pain of mortality and the general human condition.I have encountered this almost everywhere in Nigeria, people rejoicing when misfortune befalls politicians and the mighty. The retort is usually "Olorun ti mun won" (God has trapped them!). And this mindset can be further placed within the overall helplessness that constantly turns to God as the final arbiter in a prejudiced battle that places the rich over the poor.Go to Bodija, Oyingbo, Oshodi, and even the Ariaria markets, and you will see thousands of people--Nigerians--who practically embody rage. This rage is often turned on one another. And when the government trumpets anti corruption without jailing anyone, their only redress is found in letting off suppressed rage through rejoicing in the misfortunes of those who oppress them.Mbembe has written about how the obscenity of power generates hilarity. We also need to write about how banality of riches give rise to prodigious and boldfaced regime of evil thinking and wishes. In Nigeria, the poor want the rich, the wealthy and the powerful to die, simple.Adeshina Afolayan, PhD
Department of Philosophy
University of Ibadan
+23480-3928-8429On Thursday, November 2, 2017 1:47 PM, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:
--I have rejected postings commenting on the death of Tinubu's son in a negative manner.I thought that all religions and cultures preach that one must never rejoice at this kind of misfortune. I was also taken aback when some people wished Buhari dead when he was sick.Am I naïve? Or do I come from a different era?I don't engage in politics; I have only voted once in my entire life and that was for Obama, first term. I don't associate with politicians. When my friends collect political appointments, I suspend the relationship. I don't do Obi's Zik or Kadiri's Awo! My heroes are Hogan Bassey, Dick Tiger, Fela, those who bring people from below together. I don't do ethnicity—I don't know the difference between an Hausa man or an Igbo man if both are poor.That one disagrees with someone does not mean you want them to die or you want their sons to die. I don't know of any human being that can offend me to a level that I wont greet him or share a drink if invited. Serious disagreements are part of life, but rejoicing at the calamity of another is evil. It has no other name.This new climate in Africa—of evil thinking—is going to set us further back. The development we seek cannot be outside of genuine love and compassion for other human beings. I don't like Trump as a politician, but I will never pray for him to lose his son. Indeed, I will cry were this kind of thing to happen.TF
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