25 views
Skip to first unread message

Obododimma Oha

unread,
Jun 27, 2019, 12:51:36 AM6/27/19
to USAAfricaDialogue
Sometime ago, on the 19th day of June, 2019, I shared a blog update of
mine on the unfortunate absence of indigenous African traditions of
mathematical thinking in some publications in the West. I made no
pretence about being a mathematician; just a person interested in the
narration of the production of knowledge in our galaxy. You would
agree with me that USAAfricaDialogue is an important classroom for
many of us -- both in the form of peer education and learning from our
seniors/superiors. So, I was not to surprised when I received a
private email from Abdul Salau on my blog article. I read his mail and
shook my head, but I considered it an important contribution from
which I should learn. To make his contribution reach others for their
views, I replied and told him to post his response on the listserv
within seven days or I would help him to do so.

After seven days now, he is yet to post his response to
USAAfricaDialogue. So, I am helping Abdul Salau, in case he has
forgotten. Please, see his reaction below and the link to my article
on mathematics. Help us to continue thinking. Thank you.


Sincerely,
Obododimma.
==============

Prof. Oha:

Ancient Egyptians are Africans I spent my entire academic energies
exploring the relationships of Ancient Egyptian language with Hausa,
Igbo, and Yoruba languages. I chose to write you privately because
the views you are expressing are extremely embrassing.
"The only articulation of knowledge from Africa, even to be drowned in
controversies, is Ancient Egypt. And you may be warned that you are
not speaking of Africa, if you are speaking of Ancient Egypt."
Right on the forum you can write Prof. Gloria Emegwali who can give
you many references on African mathematics as you need. It is so sad
in the age of information a scholar of your stature is misinformed
on the complex subject matter on the basis of an antiquated book .
Professor Shola Olorunyomi at UI can give you information on the
subject matter. I will humbly request a retraction of your view when
you get new information.-new article on the subject matter. I greet
you in the language of Ancient Egyptian ancestors Ankh, Wdja, and
Seneb. Wishing you life, health,and prosperity.

Abdul Salau

https://x-pensiverrors.blogspot.com/2019/06/african-ancestors-and-rough-road-to.html



--
--
B.A.,First Class Honours (English & Literary Studies);
M.A., Ph.D. (English Language);
M.Sc. (Legal, Criminological & Security Psychology);
Professor of Cultural Semiotics & Stylistics,
Department of English,
University of Ibadan.

COORDINATES:

Phone (Mobile):
+234 8033331330;
+234 9033333555;
+234 8022208008;
+234 8073270008.
Skype: obododimma.oha
Twitter: @mmanwu
Personal Blog: http://udude.wordpress.com/

Biko Agozino

unread,
Jun 27, 2019, 9:10:04 AM6/27/19
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com

Great Malabite,

If he did not give you the informed consent to name him publicly, you could still have posted the contents of the mail without naming him.

No laughing matter. It is not just ancient Egypt that practiced mathematical thought, Abdul is right.

According to Ron Eglash, African Fractals: Modern Computer Engineering and Indigenous Design, the system that gave rise to the complex design of the internet is found all over Africa and it is more widespread in Africa than in any other part of the world. Europeans tend to prefer Cartesian designs of easy-to-control grids while indigenous peoples in the Americas preferred the Euclidean design of the totem pole. Africans prefer to design their hair-styles, textile, architectural design, town-planning, beliefs in the supernatural and the principles are common in arts, economics, healing and politics in predominantly fractal patterns with self-similarity, recursion, fractional dimensions, non-lineal geometry, chaos, and interconnectivity.

But I no blame Dodo Malabite, Ewu, because he probably dreaded Maths in the high school and did not take it for his English degree. On my Freshman way from Aba, I shared a ride from the motor park to Malabor with Sophomore political science students. They tried to tease me by telling me that I was going to face the terror of Maths for Social Science which was required for only Sociology. Bring it on, I bellowed. I meant it too. 

I took maths seriously and copied down every example that the Indian instructor wrote down. When someone said that he or she did not understand where the x came from or did not understand anything, he told us to copy it down and study so that we can understand later. I practiced maths daily and aced it and bonded with a Senior math major who was happy to explain some things for me. 

The lesson is that anyone can practice Maths or any other course and Master it the way sports players practice daily. That is why colleges maintain athletic programs that could teach team building as disciplined workout ethic even in acadaletics.

The answer to the mass failure in maths during WAEC is lack of practice which makes perfect. Practice Maths daily and you perform better.

Biko
--
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subs...@googlegroups.com 
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsub...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

unread,
Jun 27, 2019, 10:19:23 AM6/27/19
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com, USAAfricaDialogue
I share Salaus dismay.  Im not given to reading blogs otherwise I would have enlightened you. Western mathematics is actually the Johnny lately come when it comes to mathematics and not African mathemayics.

Also with all that has transpired on this listserv on Black Ifa mathematics I dont think you should have written what you wrote  about the absence of Black African mathematics.

OAA



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDial...@googlegroups.com 
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialo...@googlegroups.com.

OLAYINKA AGBETUYI

unread,
Jun 27, 2019, 2:34:35 PM6/27/19
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Biko:

You are right on the money.

OAA



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.


-------- Original message --------
From: 'Biko Agozino' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafric...@googlegroups.com>
Date: 27/06/2019 14:21 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series -

Boxbe This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (usaafric...@googlegroups.com) Add cleanup rule | More info

Great Malabite,

If he did not give you the informed consent to name him publicly, you could still have posted the contents of the mail without naming him.

No laughing matter. It is not just ancient Egypt that practiced mathematical thought, Abdul is right.

According to Ron Eglash, African Fractals: Modern Computer Engineering and Indigenous Design, the system that gave rise to the complex design of the internet is found all over Africa and it is more widespread in Africa than in any other part of the world. Europeans tend to prefer Cartesian designs of easy-to-control grids while indigenous peoples in the Americas preferred the Euclidean design of the totem pole. Africans prefer to design their hair-styles, textile, architectural design, town-planning, beliefs in the supernatural and the principles are common in arts, economics, healing and politics in predominantly fractal patterns with self-similarity, recursion, fractional dimensions, non-lineal geometry, chaos, and interconnectivity.

But I no blame Dodo Malabite, Ewu, because he probably dreaded Maths in the high school and did not take it for his English degree. On my Freshman way from Aba, I shared a ride from the motor park to Malabor with Sophomore political science students. They tried to tease me by telling me that I was going to face the terror of Maths for Social Science which was required for only Sociology. Bring it on, I bellowed. I meant it too. 

I took maths seriously and copied down every example that the Indian instructor wrote down. When someone said that he or she did not understand where the x came from or did not understand anything, he told us to copy it down and study so that we can understand later. I practiced maths daily and aced it and bonded with a Senior math major who was happy to explain some things for me. 

The lesson is that anyone can practice Maths or any other course and Master it the way sports players practice daily. That is why colleges maintain athletic programs that could teach team building as disciplined workout ethic even in acadaletics.

The answer to the mass failure in maths during WAEC is lack of practice which makes perfect. Practice Maths daily and you perform better.

Biko
On Thursday, 27 June 2019, 00:51:36 GMT-4, Obododimma Oha <obod...@gmail.com> wrote:


--
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subs...@googlegroups.com 
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

--
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDial...@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialo...@googlegroups.com.

Obododimma Oha

unread,
Jun 27, 2019, 4:54:56 PM6/27/19
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com
This is where one gets worried about comprehension! Maybe I don't even understand my writing! Was the essay saying Africa had no mathematical traditions? No! Was it denying them? No! Was it saying that denial or erasure is justified? No!

Was it saying that Ancient Egypt is not Africa? No! It rather draws attention to existing controversies. This, beyond Afrocentrism, can be verified!

As for silence, Abdul was given seven days, enough time. He should seek redress if exposing his email is out of order.

Thanks.
Obododimma.
PS: Sorry for being telegraphic! Packaging another essay. Sharing soon tonight. But on maths!

On Thursday, June 27, 2019, OLAYINKA AGBETUYI <yagb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
Biko:

You are right on the money.

OAA



Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.


-------- Original message --------
From: 'Biko Agozino' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Date: 27/06/2019 14:21 (GMT+00:00)
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series -

Boxbe This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com) Add cleanup rule | More info
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com 
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.

--
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.

--
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/VI1PR04MB4493BB9515686E219AFFF2B0A6FD0%40VI1PR04MB4493.eurprd04.prod.outlook.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.


--

Obododimma Oha

unread,
Jun 27, 2019, 5:23:48 PM6/27/19
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com
Just an addition: The figure, the Ethiopian eunuch, catches my interest a lot, especially the question, "Understandeth what thou what thou readest?"

Na wao! Dem wan finisham!

Oha.

Ayo Olukotun

unread,
Jun 28, 2019, 12:33:31 AM6/28/19
to Ayo Olukotun, Ayo Olukotun, Toyin Falola, Tunji Olaopa, Niyi Akinnaso, Tobi Adewunmi, Taiwo Asaolu, Prof. Tonia Simbine, Tade Aina, Olatunji Ayanlaja, Anthony Asiwaju, Toks X., Toks Olaoluwa, Ariyo Andrew Tobi, Taiwo Owoeye, Tunde Oseni, Samson Ijaola, Christina Olaoluwa, Toyosi Ogunseye, Richard A. Joseph, Bolaji Akinyemi, Royal Gardens, Remi Anifowose, Digest Recipients, Remi Sonaiya, Emmanuel Remi Aiyede, Esther Oluwaseun Idowu, Innocent Chukwuma, Idowu Olayinka, Noel Ihebuzor, Oye Ibidapo-Obe, IbrahimGambari, Victor Isumonah, Bolaji Ogunseye, Prof Eghosa E. OSAGHAE, Ebunoluwa Oduwole, Peter Ozo-Eson, Omatsola Edema, OluYinka Esan, Fred Goke, Ganiyu Go, Grace Omoshaba, Prof Ogunmola Ogunmola, Segun Gbadegesin, Glory Ukwenga, Hafsat Abiola, Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Prof. Hassan Saliu, Mohammed Haruna, Deji Olaolu Haastrup, Is-haq Oloyede, Prof Akin Mabogunje, Obadiah Mailafia, Femi Otubanjo, Michael Vickers, Margaret Ayansola, Kayode Soremekun, Bankole Omotoso, OLAYODE OLUSOLA, Mr. Kolade Mosuro, Kolaawodein, Femi Babatunde, F&C Securities Limited, Friday Okonofua, Femi Otubanjo, Cyril Obi, Chibuzo Nwoke, Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Charles Akinola, Dr John Nnia Nwodo, Sola Isola, Jide Ibietan, Ayo Banjo, Banji Oyeyinka, Ashobanjo, Biodun Jeyifo, Jide Owoeye, Ebenezer Obadare, Solomon Uwaifo, Fatai Aremu, Adebayo Olukoshi, Akinjide Osuntokun, Adigun Agbaje, Adebayo Williams, Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju, Adetoun Adetona, Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, Victor Adetula, Odia Ofeimun, Stella Olukotun, Orogun Olanike, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Oluwaniyi Osundare, Prof Osinbajo, Najim Jimoh, Prof. Ayo Dunmoye, AbdulRasheed Na'Allah
https://punchng.com/ibadan-parley-on-the-2019-general-elections/

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages