When I was young and attending church meetings, seminars and all manner of forums designed to reign in on teenage libido, there was a church elder who used to say that when a young man approaches a woman's parents to declare his intention to marry their daughter, he is essentially telling the parents that he wants to have sex with her. I never understood what he meant, but I didn't really try to, given that the elder was known for making controversial statements. I didn't understand till now.
Wandia Njoya's blog
The Politics of Sex
Cynicism and American Aid to Haiti
The God who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light. The God who holds up the ocean; who makes the thunder roar. Our God who has ears to hear. You who are hidden in the clouds; who watch us from where you are. You see all that the white has made us suffer. The white man's god asks him to commit crimes. But the God within us wants to do good. Our God, who is so good, so just, He orders us to revenge our wrongs. It's He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory. It's He who will assist us. read more »
Polygamy isn't African - It's patriarchal
South Africa's president Jacob Zuma is at it again. In the traditional ceremony for his fifth marriage, this time to the beautiful Thobeka Madiba, he once again delved into the archives of history and emerged with a relic which he imposed on modern life. The other time he did this was when he sang a liberation song "Bring me my machine gun" years into post-apartheid South Africa. The song would become the deadly anthem of poor black South Africans who lynched African immigrants whom they considered the new colonial masters.
The Collapse of the University Idea: A Kenyan Experience
Pius Adesanmi's dissection of the collapse of the university idea in Nigeria inspired me to tell a story which continues to disturb me. This May, I welcomed a student who had just joined out department and registered for Bachelor of Education in English. read more »
Gender and Neocolonialism
This month, I am involved in one of the most exciting moments of my career since I returned home. I was invited by some undergraduate students to give 2 lectures on neo-colonialism on two different days. I have done the first part in which I did a survey of pan-African liberation struggles and imperial expansion over the last 5 centuries. Next week I talk about the various contemporary forms of neo-colonialism.
