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The performance by
Akeem Lasisi and his Songbirds was the springboard for the critical
examination of Africa’s future done at the 2010 Centre for Black and
African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) lecture held on July 22 at Afe
Babalola Hall, University of Lagos.

Lasisi, two-time
winner of the ANA/Cadbury Prize for Poetry, opened with ijala chants
before doing ‘Eleleture’, the title track of his soon-to-be-released
album. The hall turned to a laughter chamber as the poet, backed by
Awoko and Edaoto, attempted to woo a lady with some stirring love
poems. The coy lady initially refused to ‘fall’ but later succumbed to
the poet’s tender lyrics. Guests, including those on the high table,
shared in the joy of Lasisi’s conquest with their laughter when the
lady eventually agreed.

Speakers
thereafter addressed the theme of the lecture, ‘Reinventing Africa for
the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century’. Vice chancellor of the
University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, remarked that it was
“interesting and challenging.”

Culture is strategic

Director General
of CBAAC, Tunde Babawale, noted that though many African countries had
great hopes at independence 50 years ago, the continent is plagued with
civil strife, political instability, unemployment and corruption. He
nonetheless affirmed that Africa can still attain its dreams of
development if a number of steps are taken. Babawale said efforts must
be made to develop and sustain home-grown technologies to drive the
quest for improved energy source, industrialization and food security.

Africa’s culture,
he added, “has a vital role to play in re-positioning our continent and
country for the enormous challenges of this century. We risk stagnation
if our efforts to develop are not properly linked to our culture.
Culture is so strategic to the development of science and technology
that we can only ignore it at our own peril.”

Chair of the
occasion and a former vice chancellor of UNILAG, Oye Ibidapo-Obe, also
stressed the importance of reinventing Africa. He noted that physical
demarcations will be over soon and “whether the West likes it or not,
the world will be one in 20 years time; it will be a virtual world.”
Ibidapo-Obe reiterated that Africa has to reinvent itself so it doesn’t
melt away. He added that the continent has to conquer time and “make it
our own slave because it waits for no one” in its quest for progress.

Chair, CBAAC
board, Semiu Adesina Bakinson, said though Africa has quite a lot of
problems, they are not insurmountable. “If we are to reinvent our
continent to effectively face the challenges of this century, we should
as a matter of necessity reorder our priorities. We should ask
ourselves if our actions can aid the realisation of our dreams,” he
noted.

The minister of
tourism, culture and national orientation, Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed,
expressed satisfaction with CBAAC’s performance so far. He also touched
on Africa’s many troubles, but noted that “these challenges can be used
as spring boards to greatness.” Muhammed’s address was read by Martins
Adaji, acting artistic director of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

No to foreign aid

The guest
lecturer, Julius Ihonvbere, was frank in evaluating Africa’s state in
his well received lecture. The professor of Political Science noted
that it is sad that Africa remains in deep trouble, despite the fact
that a number of countries on the continent have been independent for
50 years.

“It is
embarrassing to note that there is not one area of politics, economy,
and society where any African state could be said to have been so
successful that its example should be a lesson to the world. Even where
the issues, contradictions, and needs are so glaring, the post-colonial
state in Africa and its custodians have managed to snatch failure and
confusion from the palms of success,” he said.

The special
adviser to former president Olusegun Obasanjo on policy and programmes
monitoring added that though “Africa is changing, even if reluctantly
and slowly,” four critical steps needed to be taken to truly reinvent
the continent. Ihonvbere highlighted reforming the state; redefining
and strengthening leadership at all levels; reforming Africa’s
political parties for democracy; and building the constitution on the
people, as the needed measures.

“The international
community does not need to give aid to Africa,” Ihonvbere began while
castigating foreign aid, which some argue ties Africa perpetually to
the apron strings of the West.

“What the
continent needs is access to the markets, relevant technology, support
for the process of transformation, and empowerment of the people and
their organisations. President Obama says Africa does not need
strongmen, but strong institutions. The truth is that we need both.

“But we must be
vigilant to ensure that the strongmen have vision, credibility,
integrity, compassion, dignity, intellect, courage, and a passion for
progress. We must ensure that the institutions are transparent,
accountable, democratic, people-focused and people-driven. In this way,
we can truly reinvent Africa for progress,” he concluded.

Ibidapo-Obe, who enjoyed the lecture like everybody else, had a
recommendation concerning the school children present at the end of the
day. “Give a copy of the lecture to the children. Julius has done
damage mending with his lecture. Though you may not understand some of
the grammar, get a dictionary. Your parents can also explain what you
don’t know,” he said in reference to the children who witnessed the
last show of shame by members of the House of Representatives when they
fought themselves.