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| Dubois |
This weekend, after discussing what contribution PhD holders should make to society, we discuss two important thinkers on whether higher education really matters.Why should a nation invest in her people obtaining higher education? Of what value is university education? Is it just titles? Better jobs? What? And what should that education contain?
We will begin with chapters one and three of Souls of black folk, by W.E.B Dubois Since the book was published in the second-last century, it's in public domain on the internet. We will then discuss Mamdani's article The Importance of research in a university.
Please let's have the comments posted latest Saturday 9 am.
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| Mamdani |
1. The lack of capital resources in the developing nations like Kenya critically determine the nature of academic pursuit. The financial allocation to post-graduate training is very low.
ReplyDelete2. The 8-4-4 system of education that sought o emphasize on 'practical skills' could be a reflection of Booker T. Washington's ideals. Are there parallels?
3. Has the opening up of the democratic space in Africa allowed for the creating of intellectual debate culture that Mamdani is calling for? Can 'free thinking' be encouraged today?
From the above readings we question education, is it meant to empower the individual in dealing with societal issues like racial discrimination or rather does it act as one of the social barriers in integrating with the community ?
ReplyDeleteOn the need to globa-localize education, most of the books especially those that deal with communication ( at least to the best of my knowledge) deal with the western concepts and examples….does it mean that we do not have African scholars willing to write books that explain the same theories from an African perspective?
And finally what is the place of research in our institutions of higher learning?
ReplyDelete1. Can African universities attain autonomy in scholarships despite the globalized world?
2. Can the university dons do away with the consultancy culture, despite the economic realities in the African universities?
3. Why has the condition of the negro remained the same, even after the black emancipation?
4. The negro strive for identity emanate from his nonacceptance of his colour and origin?
Questions for The Souls of Black Folks- W. E. B. Du Bois
ReplyDelete1. Early on in “The Souls of Black Folk”, DuBois realizes that he was different from other children when he offers a card to a girl and she refuses to take it. How did this realization affect his life from then on.?
2. How does Booker T. Washington view government intervention in promoting black equality in The Souls of Black Folk?
3. Is there any parallelism of what Du Bois advocates for higher education for the black folks and what Mamdani advocates for the Africans in the African continent?
Questions for discussion
ReplyDelete1. “The Study of the Negro Problems” was written over a century ago. But today, the same problems that Du Bois talked about (crime, lawlessness, prostitution, lack of motivation to better themselves etc) still afflict the black people in America yet they have been accorded equal opportunities to their white counterparts. Would we then say that the white oppressor may have been right when the said that the Negro was not capable of self-direction?
2. Slavery may have been abolished way before the current generation of black in America was born, but still, the blacks still suffer some form of oppression from their fellow blacks. Does this mean that these people, having been socialized in a system that was oppressive and having handed down these memories to the new generations, internalized it and therefore cannot live without oppression, whichever quarter the oppression may be coming from?
3. Shivji refers to the “Slicing of the African ‘cake’” that led to colonization. Now, the imperialist seems to be coming back in the form of globalization where national leaders are no longer answerable to their people but to their donors. Could we than say that to deal with this problem, scholars need to add their voice to the NGO discourse? In this way, we do not see a comeback of the colonial master? What role can African scholars play?
1. Is it fair, as Shivji does, to criticism NGO for working with despotic African governments when these organizations are filling Ina gap that the governments have left and those served would literally be obliterated.
ReplyDelete2. Does Shivji believe that the dream of an East African federation is possible considering that we have been separate entities for over 50 years. Note that he says Nkuruma and Nyerere were aware of this challenge.
3. From where does Shivji see salvation for Africa coming; he criticisms the elite as well as the middle class in Afruca. Can there be a revolution that is not mid-wife's by this class?
4. WEB Dubois states that the "negro" problem was one as such because little social theorization of the negro preceded studies of the negro. Can the same analogy be used in understanding the ethnic problem in Kenya. Say for instance the Luo or Gikuyu problem.
1. As much as NGOs are fully engaged in addressing the problems of the underprivileged, there should not be a disconnect between the solutions advocated for by the donors and the causes that should be addressed by the African states and intellectuals as advocated for by both Shivji and Mamdani
ReplyDelete2. The Negro problem should not just focus on the racial prejudice as reflected now, but there should be a thorough study of all the forces and conditions that contribute to the Negro problem, trace the historical development of the conditions, and discover the possible trends and how to address them.
1. According to Fanon the process of decolonization requires some form of violence because when the colonist himself comes into a country and colonizes it, he does so with some form of violence and the language spoken by his soldiers and policemen is that of violence. Bearing in mind the dictatorship that is evident in some African countries, would he (Fanon) also advocate for violence to get rid of such leaders?
ReplyDelete2. Would the middle class or bourgeoisie help in this process especially by educating or sensitizing the masses about their rights and the roles they need to play in the process of liberating themselves from the dictators?
3. The national middle class which takes over power at the end of the colonial regime is an under-developed middle class. We can see that in most African countries. This middle class comes in and become like mini colonists or home grown colonists. What role would the scholars play in connecting the low class masses with the ruling class bourgeoisie?