Thursday, April 1, 2021

USA Africa Dialogue Series - 20th Annual Africa Texas Conference Summary 1: Pre-Full Conference Discussion on COVID [ Ongoing]

Prof. Falola welcomes participants.

While preparing for full presence of participants Falola invites responses on COVID-19 with particular reference to Africa.

    Why has the COVID toll been significantly lower in Africa?

         Presents various hypotheses.
         No definite answer yet.

    Invites Oladele Balogun to respond from his Ibadan, Nigeria experience.   

          Balogun- dire predictions unfulfilled. Perhaps high temperature responsible but Falola reminds that that theory has been 
          debunked.
          Balogun sees the Africa safety as an act of God.
          Falola reminds about the Tanzanian   President who said Jesus would defeat COVID but has left the world through 
          COVID.
          Balogun insists that divine presence does not imply one should be careless.

    Falola states Africans had anti-virus techniques.

           
They are familiar with viruses and even had virus cults, such as the Yoruba Soponna cult, leading to medical practices 
          that West discovered only much later, eg vaccination as incisions for faster entry into the blood 
           stream. 
            Also, isolation practices used for centuries, eg leprosy, mental illness.
            Also, empirical observations vguiding further action.
          These practices need to be systematised, their scientific values highlighted, as different from their spirituality alone.
           What of traditional African techniques for boosting immunity?
          What of traditional African lifestyles that worked for good health?
                   Vegetable centred diets, avoiding over eating.

    Anene Ejikeme responds.

              Explorations of traditional African remedies. Struggles with Western pharmaceutical companies over intellectual 
              property rights.
              Benin, Nigeria, Nigerian priest studying traditional medicine. 
              2022 conference will address these further.

Nurudeen Akinyemi responds.

               Youthful demographic and extensive outdoor activity may be responsible. 

Falola wonders how valid with tight population density even outdoors. 

What of the implications of COVID for African universities?

               The challenge of moving online for public universities unlike private who moved online smoothly.

Serges Alain Kamga responds

           On exclusion of disabled students in the African online environments. What way forward for disabled people in such 
            contexts?

Oladele Balogun states public universities are taking up the challenge of online connectivity. 

Hepzibah Mary from India responds, outlining her love for African literature. Expresses gratitude to be part of the gathering.

Chukwuemeka Agbo wonders if the God intervention theory presented by Balogun should not be more seriously discussed.

 Jamaine Abidogun states Africans were better prepared than the rest of the world. Such as speed in using isolation techniques.

Five minute break. Pius Adesanmi commemorative film shows. Oration on his influential presence as scholar, friend and family man.
Invokes his continuing positive influence in making the world a better place in dedication to his Creator.


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