Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Moderator's Caution: Lives Matter

Prof Falola
Thank you for the word of caution. Politeness to one another on this dialogue series will not remove anything from our dignity.

Prof Felicia A. D. Oyekanmi
Department of Sociology
University of Lagos
Akoka, Yaba,
Lagos Nigeria
Tel: {234} 1 7941757
Cell: {234}8056560970

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On Tue, 27/10/15, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Moderator's Caution: Lives Matter
To: "dialogue" <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, 27 October, 2015, 14:09






Scholars:



As you make your
arguments, be aware that statements that can generate
violence and loss of lives are outside the bounds of
scholarly engagements and individual
rights. Indeed, such statements are irresponsible.
Citizenship has its limits. Freedom has its limits.
Rights are not limitless.



We cannot be in
the comfort of our relocated spaces and not know that we
have our brothers and sisters in  Enugu, Sokoto,
Makurdi,  Ibadan and other places whose
lives deserve to be protected.



Localism, irrespective of
one's "federalist" position, remains
powerful in Africa. You cannot wish away overnight, Zulu
identity, even if we make arguments that it was a 19th
century creation.
Igbo, Yoruba etc. as presently constituted as political
identities have not always been with us. But you can no
longer wish them away overnight. I cannot go to Benue
State and be disrespectful to the Idoma because of modernist
arguments.



I cannot walk to Sokoto and say that
the Sultan is not important, and his right to the Sokoto
throne qualifies me to set up what the Sultan will
regard as a threat to his throne. There is a
history to his throne, and there may be a history to mine
as well, but wisdom means that I must be careful
as I may not even have the number to fight the
Sultan.



I am not from Ile-Ife,
but I cannot walk to Ife to ask them not to accord
respect and dignity to their Ooni. Who
am I? Citizenship in most African countries remain
connected to places of birth, and I am sure that it
will not always be so in the years ahead. You and I do
not know when. 



Meanwhile, we must protect lives,
and not be talking about death to people, in so casual a
manner.



A mob can be generated within
minutes in many places, and the police and army cannot do
that much to protect lives, usually of the
poor. 



Onigbogbo is my favorite joint
in Nigeria. I was there last week. Here is the model
that works, Muslims and Christians, poor and not so poor,
Tiv, Igbo and Yoruba living their lives without
many of the arguments we make here. My joint is actually in
front of the palace of the Onigbongbo. Indeed, after
the Friday mosque, some Muslims joined us to drink
beer. The Onigbongbo people see lives differently from the
way some of the scholars see things.



Exercise
caution. 



Life is
sacrosanct. One life should not be lost because of temporary
political exigencies in a country that was cobbled together
and where secular institutions
remain either weak or not functioning well.



CAUTION





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