A top notch African American scholar and Afrocentrism theorist Molefi Asante has expressed doubt the dream of a United States of Africa will materialise any time soon due to rifts across the continent.
He made this observation while answering questions on the Toyin Falola Interviews.
Prof. Asante narrated how he went to Abuja in the company of President Wade of Senegal to discuss the possibility of the establishment of the United States of Africa comprising six regions, with President Obasanjo and a few other African leaders.
Professor Asante said he came away with the impression African leaders were generally opposed to the idea, adding that unless a grassroot mobilisation for the idea was organised, the idea cannot be realised.
According to him African theories are generally derivative of western theories whether capitalism, socialism or , Christianity. He said many African philosophers like Anthony Appiah engage Africa from a Eurocentric inspired agenda.
With regards to the role of religion in dividing Africa, he said both Christianity and Islam came to Africa but were not African, however, he noted that it is tragic that Africans kill each others because of these ideologies rather than focus on indigenous religious ideologies. He called the two religions One God Imperialisms.
Professor Asante said reparations is needed for Blacks not necessarily in the context of cash payments but free education for Black students in view of the fact (to repair) their ancestors gave free labour for 246 years to lay the foundations for the success of American capitalism.
The theorist distinguished between Africanity expressing African culture in fashion and dressing, and Afrocentricity which he defined as engaging African phenomena from an African persoective. According to him, Africology is the Afrocentric study of African phenomena, transgenerationally and transcontinentally.
Professor Asante disagreed he is a public intellectual but an activist scholar.
OAA
Let those who believe in majority rule clamour for its practice at the centre in Nigeria come 2023
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