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<misbafumi@hotmail.com>
Some people are definitely listening to Ayittey. And these are
the ones who share his opinion of a hopeless and unredemptive
Africa. An Africa that is doomed or suffering from what I may
call the "hamitic curse" syndrome. Since 1991 when I first heard
George Ayittey at Wayne State University's Third World
Conference, and read some of his works since, I came to one
conclusion: Ayittey needs to either be quiet or come up with a
sound intellectual discourse. The kind of discourse that will be
more academically respected, rather than depending on
journalistically biased interpretations of the African scene.
We have had enough of the gloom and doom reports and analysis of
Africa's development from the western media and the last place we
certainly want any more of such subjectivity is the academic
circle. I am not surprised at Ayittey's lack of recognition of
those intellectuals who in spite of the odds against them,
continue to sacrifice and remain on the continent to give hope to
the few students who, unlike Ayittey have optimism for the
continent that Ayittey has condemned.
Ayittey will be more relevant if he learns to balance his
opinions with recognition of Africa's genuine effort to be
relevant on the global scene.
Thanks for your more balanced review. We need more of such
level headed analysis. Keep it up.
 Humanities & Social Sciences Online 
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