Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Moderator: No Censorship

Zalanga's response  is rich enough to serve as the description of a book.

toyin

On 30 October 2015 at 04:17, Samuel Zalanga <szalanga@bethel.edu> wrote:

This is similar to what is happening in the developed economies too. There is much work that is productive and critical to the economy,which takes place in the informal sector, broadly conceptualized especially given the tradition of sub-contracting. But such work in the informal economy is not counted as part of meaningful and productive contribution to the gross domestic product. Often that kind of work is performed by economically disadvantaged people which includes but is not limited to: minorities and women. Such exclusion devalues their work and makes them less visible.  There is something strategic and systemic about this, which in my view is similar to the concern raised.

 It will not be surprising that given the way knowledge, its production, circulation, use and control is a highly politicized issue in contexts characterized by unequal power, this can happen even within the same group of people in Africa, especially when the dominant group allow themselves to be consumed by "libido dominandi" instead of the human condition and the struggle to create a more just and fair society.

The commodificaiton of knowledge and everything means that even if something has value, its significance is only a matter of concern in relation to other things that have market value as well.  This is why Habermas raises concern about the colonization of the life world or private sphere, i.e., more and more areas of human endeavor coming under the canopy of market calculations which is not necessarily moral or ethical and not stable.

 Money or capital has become a common denominator and so the question is not whether something has value or not per se, but in relation to what? I am traumatized by the broader implication of this question. Originally men never have to buy a diamond ring to engage a woman. But when diamond was discovered, the De Beers realized they can make money out of it but the only way to do that, is to embark on a campaign that will persuade people to believe that the best way to demonstrate one's love to a woman is through asking for her hand in marriage using expensive diamond ring. People were gullible and they accepted that. There are other ways and things of value through which genuine love could be demonstrated, but in the marketplace, diamond has been made to be the best way to express such love. Other things became devalued not because they have no value but because of the market propaganda that was used and often without people's awareness.

Samuel

On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 9:45 AM, Emeagwali, Gloria (History) <emeagwali@mail.ccsu.edu> wrote:

"Nigeria has untapped knowledge and knowledge systems. We discountenance peasant intellectuals to our own peril. The Igbo trader who
 creates market networks extending from Lagos to Fernando Po is not part of whom we teach in Economics; the skilled snake
 venom remover in Owerri is ignored; the Babalawo in Ijebu Ode is disregarded. All these are intellectuals of note."



.... and  the hairdresser who makes arithmetical calculations in  hair braiding,  producing  intricate geometrical patterns in styling ;
 the local  communities that have  discovered multiple medical benefits and usages of  baobab; the builder of round houses
who can calculate pi; the local historian who can  recount generations of historical knowledge; the tanner who applies a
 wealth of chemistry in  denaturation, preservation,  and dyeing of  animal skin............


We have a  lot of work to do indeed. Our scholars must have a paradigmatic shift in appreciating, understanding,
 analyzing and articulating the wealth of knowledge within.




Professor Gloria Emeagwali
History Department
CCSU. New Britain. CT 06050
africahistory.net
vimeo.com/user5946750/videos
Gloria Emeagwali's Documentaries on
Africa and the African Diaspora

________________________________
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Toyin Falola [toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 4:25 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Moderator: No Censorship

Oga Chidi:
I understand what you mean, using it as a profession, but I am using it as generators of ideas.

You are a scholar, an intellectual. Indeed, you a great scholar of Nigerian Affairs. My opinion, as a licensed professor of history, is not superior to yours.
Indeed, I take people to Onigbongbo to listen to organic intellectuals who come up with brilliant ideas as we consume pepper soup and listen to Ayinla Omowura or Osadebe.

Nigeria has untapped knowledge and knowledge systems. We discountenance peasant intellectuals to our own peril. The Igbo trader who creates market networks extending from Lagos to Fernando Po is not part of whom we teach in Economics; the skilled snake venom remover in Owerri is ignored; the Babalawo in Ijebu Ode is disregarded. All these are intellectuals of note.

We also undermine indigenous ways of knowing as well as our languages.

You and I have work to do.
TF


From: Chidi Anthony Opara <chidi.opara@gmail.com<mailto:chidi.opara@gmail.com>>
Reply-To: dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com<mailto:USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>>
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 3:09 PM
To: dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com<mailto:USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>>
Cc: dialogue <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com<mailto:USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>>
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: Moderator: No Censorship

Prof,
You make repeated reference to scholars as if all of us here are scholars.

CAO.

On Wednesday, 28 October 2015 20:19:41 UTC+1, Toyin Falola wrote:
Dear all:
 Some have contacted me to ask why their postings have not appeared. I have not rejected anyone's posting. I don't base decisions on whether I agree or disagree with any position.

1. Anonymous posts are not allowed. Your name and address must be accessible . Where anonymous folks penetrate the list, I never post their statements.

2. It is the email address that you used to join that you can use to post. The system is such that if you use a different email address your message won't make it to me.

3. Adepoju sends tons of postings from other lists, and I cannot approve all of them.

4. When an issue contains what can be misread as "hate literature", anti-Semitic, anti-Islam (this is common) I do not post. Scholars should allow Muslims to practice their religion in peace. It is disrespectful to abuse people of other faiths and cultures different from yours.

5. When I have no access to the Internet, Bisola, my daughter and Vik, a member, take over and they reject and select.

I chose not to be active as a contributor; I read everything; and I send private warnings to folks when they cross the line. And of course I warn occasionally when I think that statements may generate violence and hostilities in plural spaces. Scholars must contribute to peace and harmony. Politicians have done enough damage. All human lives matter.

TF





Sent from my iPhone

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Samuel Zalanga
Department of Anthropology, Sociology & Reconciliation Studies
Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive #24
Saint Paul, MN 55112.
Office Phone: 651-638-6023

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