Comments on: The African Union: A club of convenience http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:41:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Augustine Ben Onwubiko http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89311 Augustine Ben Onwubiko Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:07:13 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89311 Dear Mr. Owen, you are totally right on the issue of colonial injustice and shortsightedness. That not withstanding, we supposed to have learnt by now that the world runs in time, and so has the possibility of producing history. History is a great teacher. Learning, the say is a relative change in behaviour. African leaders, if they are qualified to be leaders they should be capable of learning. It sad that they have not, or refused to learn. We look foreward to seeing a relative change in behaviour, that means changing attitudes; the unrealistic ideologies and creations of the colonial masters. This, I think, is independence. Dear Mr. Owen,
you are totally right on the issue of colonial injustice and shortsightedness. That not withstanding, we supposed to have learnt by now that the world runs in time, and so has the possibility of producing history. History is a great teacher. Learning, the say is a relative change in behaviour. African leaders, if they are qualified to be leaders they should be capable of learning. It sad that they have not, or refused to learn. We look foreward to seeing a relative change in behaviour, that means changing attitudes; the unrealistic ideologies and creations of the colonial masters. This, I think, is independence.

]]> By: Owen http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89242 Owen Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:36:09 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89242 Good analysis. However, what is the root cause of Africa's disfunctional politial systems? Are the colonial borders not to blame for most, if not all, of the problems? In Europe and Asia mountains formed the boundaries and people gathered around rivers. So one finds that political borders are usually associated with mountain ranges or deserts. Yet in Africa rivers were used as borders hence peoples of common cultures and mother tongue are divided into seperate countries and are expected to get along with peoples from other cultures and mother tongues. Most african states have to use a colonial language to talk to their fellow country men. Now it is easy to go to war and /or steal from a fellow countryman who is not of your culture. National pride comes from common culture and mother tongue. Most african states do not have this binding culture and mother tongue. Hence internal state conflict occurs detroying any chance of a collective african union. Good analysis. However, what is the root cause of Africa’s disfunctional politial systems?

Are the colonial borders not to blame for most, if not all, of the problems?

In Europe and Asia mountains formed the boundaries and people gathered around rivers. So one finds that political borders are usually associated with mountain ranges or deserts. Yet in Africa rivers were used as borders hence peoples of common cultures and mother tongue are divided into seperate countries and are expected to get along with peoples from other cultures and mother tongues. Most african states have to use a colonial language to talk to their fellow country men.

Now it is easy to go to war and /or steal from a fellow countryman who is not of your culture.

National pride comes from common culture and mother tongue. Most african states do not have this binding culture and mother tongue. Hence internal state conflict occurs detroying any chance of a collective african union.

]]> By: Jon http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89144 Jon Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:28:08 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89144 Simply write more simply. Be succinct. Simply write more simply. Be succinct.

]]> By: Augustine Ben Onwubiko http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89108 Augustine Ben Onwubiko Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:56:16 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89108 An honest analysis of the African sorry socio- political reality at that level. The same is reflexive of the junta politics taking place in the various so called "democratic states in Africa". Such are the fruits of ideologies, when they have no genuine philosophical history behind them. Could this be a clarion call for us Africans to begin a process of political thinking which will be strategic and consequecial in application? Time has come for the Africans to appropriate history for the purpose of a corrective future. A resolute rejection of the Cabals as recommended by the author is the first step in that direction.I am convinced in the saying, that knowledge is power. To be properly informed is to be empowered. Such expose could go a long way, I believe, in saving Africa from the sharckles of Ignorance. I see in this effort,a little drop of water that can make a mighty ocean. I encourage our young academics to continue to light this kind of candle instead of causing darkness. Buchi thank you for this wake up call. Sing this dirge to us always like the early morning bird. Well done. And may God bless Africa! An honest analysis of the African sorry socio- political reality at that level. The same is reflexive of the junta politics taking place in the various so called “democratic states in Africa”. Such are the fruits of ideologies, when they have no genuine philosophical history behind them. Could this be a clarion call for us Africans to begin a process of political thinking which will be strategic and consequecial in application? Time has come for the Africans to appropriate history for the purpose of a corrective future. A resolute rejection of the Cabals as recommended by the author is the first step in that direction.I am convinced in the saying, that knowledge is power. To be properly informed is to be empowered. Such expose could go a long way, I believe, in saving Africa from the sharckles of Ignorance. I see in this effort,a little drop of water that can make a mighty ocean. I encourage our young academics to continue to light this kind of candle instead of causing darkness. Buchi thank you for this wake up call. Sing this dirge to us always like the early morning bird. Well done. And may God bless Africa!

]]> By: Jon http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89077 Jon Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:22:34 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89077 "Africanity or pan-African identity is construed as an ideological discourse, where identity in this sense becomes a master of political mystification, of a systematic elision of reality. On this elision of reality, the AU now sustains itself by a mimesis of a perception, mirroring itself in what it fashions and surrendering to the false vision it has thus invented." Ehhh.... Pardon? “Africanity or pan-African identity is construed as an ideological discourse, where identity in this sense becomes a master of political mystification, of a systematic elision of reality. On this elision of reality, the AU now sustains itself by a mimesis of a perception, mirroring itself in what it fashions and surrendering to the false vision it has thus invented.”

Ehhh…. Pardon?

]]> By: Dr. Uchenna Orji http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89068 Dr. Uchenna Orji Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:06:24 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89068 This is just hitting the nail on the head, as it were, and telling the bitter but gospel truth! African leaders have just failed woefully in addressing the needs of the continent, thanks to their perennial self-serving interests and gross ineptitude. How can people so blessed with such abundant resources be so cursed with such repugnant leadership? It is as appalling as it is embarassing! Dr. Uche Orji; New Jersey, USA This is just hitting the nail on the head, as it were, and telling the bitter but gospel truth! African leaders have just failed woefully in addressing the needs of the continent, thanks to their perennial self-serving interests and gross ineptitude. How can people so blessed with such abundant resources be so cursed with such repugnant leadership?
It is as appalling as it is embarassing!
Dr. Uche Orji; New Jersey, USA

]]> By: Dumisani http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/comment-page-1/#comment-89059 Dumisani Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:52:55 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/08/05/cabals-in-power-african-leaders-and-the-cult-of-the-african-union/#comment-89059 This is brilliant. Very thoughtful and provocative. Welldone mail and guardian This is brilliant. Very thoughtful and provocative. Welldone mail and guardian

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