Africa Unchained-The Blueprint for Africa's Future by George B.N. Ayittey.

[Adam Foya]

I am so greatfully and thankfully to Mama Demere Kitunga for borrowing me AFRICA UNCHAINED:THE BLUEPRINT FOR AFRICA'S FUTURE by George B.N. Ayittey who is also a Ghanian Economist and President of Free Africa Foundation. The book is very challenging and thought provoking. To some is very controvesial because Ayittey is criticing allot of convetional thinking and taking a different position from what many (possibly of us think). For example he criticise people like Nyerere, Nkurumah, Kenyatta and Kaunda for failing to look at the traditional settings when they embarked in post independence National Development Projects.

Prof.Ayittey conclude that: "Africa is poor because she is not free" and classifies Africa generation between the 'Cheetahs' and 'Hippso'. Cheetahs being the young generation which has decided not to play blame game of saying Africa is poor because of slave trade, colonialism or neo-colonialism. But have decided to find solution to African problems. The Hippos are the ruling 'vampire' elite rulling class who are corrupt and sucking the wealth of their people for personal benefit.  For some clarification you can watch and download Prof.Ayittey  Video from TED while speaking on Cheetahs vs Hippo.

What I agree with Ayittey is that, future of Africa lies in the heart, mind and hand of young generation which is ready to focus more on finding African solution for Africa problems. However, his classification between Cheetah vs Hippo is still unclear to me.

This is the book I am reading now and I expect to write full book review after finishing reading it. Next week I hope to meet James Shikwati, Director of Inter Regional Economic Network (IREN) who is among the 'Cheetah' commended by Prof Ayittey in his book. IREN is organizing Africa Resource Bank Meeting from 11th to 14th November 2009 at Kibo Palace, Arusha Tanzania.

Take time to watch his Video and read the book, as I beleive, there are alot to learn on how Africa, can become Self-Reliant.

--
Adam Jackson Foya
Mobile: +255 713 764 782
P.O.Box 42329 Dar Es Salaam,Tanzania
Blog: http://marafikiwavitabu.wordpress.com/
Group: http://groups.google.co.tz/group/marafikiwavitabu

"As much as you are critical, be constructive"

[bernard baha]

Adam,

 

I find this insulting to the history of  Africa when some one comes with a suggestion that we should not mention slave trade, colonialism or neo colonialism or rather currently neo liberalism in the making of African  poverty, Yes, when analysing the causes of poverty with regard to Africa one has to embark on a multidimensional view of  the subject matter. But if you ask me, my answer would be we have primary and secondary sources of poverty in Africa, I'l never buy the cheap politics of the likes of Ayyiteh as slave trade, colonialism and neo colonialism to me are the building stones or rather the foundation of subjugation, exploitation and eventual oppression of Africa in the world. The rest comes in after, I agree that their have been internal systemic factors that have also contributed in the making of African poverty but if we make a thorough analysis we'l end up with the conclusion that still even the internal factors have a direct linkage with what happened in the past, ours to the large extent have been what we call flag independence meaning that those who subjugated us in the past still call the shot!

 

We have answers in almost every thing that we do! all our plans have to be blessed by the world bank, IMF or rather to use the most democratic word (of course for environmentally userfriendly purposes to some of us) development patners! did this come accidentally? I understand Prof Ayyiteh is one of those economist who are trying to build a school of thought that  the idea of the market is infact not new to AFrica! according to this line of thinking working against the market and here I am referring to the work of BABA WA TAIFA and his colleagues especially those who advocated for Afrocan Socialism was and is considered as one of the problem towards achieving prosperity! I find this kind of thinking still in line with the modernization school of thought! So who are the Cheetahs of today! the connected, most privelleged class, the educated who have decided to take side, the petty bourgeoisie of today who are mere agents of  the multinationals and IFIs, or rather to copy from Comrade Chachage and sorry again for use of this term which may not be userfriendly for some of us THE PIMPS OF FREE MARKET!

 

Adam, Comrade.  I am waiting for your review and I hope you will accord it its deserved attention, Comrade Haroub used to walk with the tag in his car which if I remember properly had a message that Socialists have the right to speak! The answer to the African woes is that LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK and never think for them! I am sure once the people raise up against the oppressors and their agents, we have plenty of resources for us to share the national cake! ALUTA CONTINUA!

---

From: Adam Foya <adam...@gmail.com>
To: marafiki...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 3:53:52 PM
Subject: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Africa Unchained-The Blueprint for Africa's Future by George B.N. Ayittey.

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[Chambi Chachage]

I wrote my brief take of the book and his TED lecture at http://udadisi.blogspot.com/2009/01/are-you-cheetah-generation.html . Of course I haven't read the whole book. But last week I took a glance at the section of the Book that talks about Tanzania and Nyerere and I was very dissapointed. It lacks a detailed analysis of what really happened as it relies on a lot of secondary sources instead of primary sources. And as we know there a lot of secondary sources out there that are just critical for the sake of it. Well, I thought, that is the pitfalls of general books on Africa that tries to write and explains everything about the continent as if someone is so familiar about all the 50+ countries of Africa. How can you condense the 40+ history of a country in such a way - a reader who does not know Tanzania might even think Nyerere was still a President in 1995 when grand corruption was running rampant and thus responsible for it! I know there is a lot of hype about the book but the author needs to know the places he is writing about!

 

---

From: bernard baha <bahab...@yahoo.com>
To: marafiki...@googlegroups.com; Wanazuoni Tanzania <wana...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 5:01:53 PM
Subject: [wanazuoni] Re: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Africa Unchained-The Blueprint for Africa's Future by George B.N. Ayittey.

 

Adam,

 

I find this insulting to the history of  Africa when some one comes with a suggestion that we should not mention slave trade, colonialism or neo colonialism or rather currently neo liberalism in the making of African  poverty, Yes, when analysing the causes of poverty with regard to Africa one has to embark on a multidimensional view of  the subject matter. But if you ask me, my answer would be we have primary and secondary sources of poverty in Africa, I'l never buy the cheap politics of the likes of Ayyiteh as slave trade, colonialism and neo colonialism to me are the building stones or rather the foundation of subjugation, exploitation and eventual oppression of Africa in the world. The rest comes in after, I agree that their have been internal systemic factors that have also contributed in the making of African poverty but if we make a thorough analysis we'l end up with the conclusion that still even the internal factors have a direct linkage with what happened in the past, ours to the large extent have been what we call flag independence meaning that those who subjugated us in the past still call the shot!

 

We have answers in almost every thing that we do! all our plans have to be blessed by the world bank, IMF or rather to use the most democratic word (of course for environmentally userfriendly purposes to some of us) development patners! did this come accidentally? I understand Prof Ayyiteh is one of those economist who are trying to build a school of thought that  the idea of the market is infact not new to AFrica! according to this line of thinking working against the market and here I am referring to the work of BABA WA TAIFA and his colleagues especially those who advocated for Afrocan Socialism was and is considered as one of the problem towards achieving prosperity! I find this kind of thinking still in line with the modernization school of thought! So who are the Cheetahs of today! the connected, most privelleged class, the educated who have decided to take side, the petty bourgeoisie of today who are mere agents of  the multinationals and IFIs, or rather to copy from Comrade Chachage and sorry again for use of this term which may not be userfriendly for some of us THE PIMPS OF FREE MARKET!

 

Adam, Comrade.  I am waiting for your review and I hope you will accord it its deserved attention, Comrade Haroub used to walk with the tag in his car which if I remember properly had a message that Socialists have the right to speak! The answer to the African woes is that LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK and never think for them! I am sure once the people raise up against the oppressors and their agents, we have plenty of resources for us to share the national cake! ALUTA CONTINUA!

---

From: Adam Foya <adamfoya@gmail. com>
To: marafikiwavitabu@ googlegroups. com

Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 3:53:52 PM
Subject: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Africa Unchained-The Blueprint for Africa's Future by George B.N. Ayittey.

I am so greatfully and thankfully to Mama Demere Kitunga for borrowing me AFRICA UNCHAINED:THE BLUEPRINT FOR AFRICA'S FUTURE by George B.N. Ayittey who is also a Ghanian Economist and President of Free Africa Foundation. The book is very challenging and thought provoking. To some is very controvesial because Ayittey is criticing allot of convetional thinking and taking a different position from what many (possibly of us think). For example he criticise people like Nyerere, Nkurumah, Kenyatta and Kaunda for failing to look at the traditional settings when they embarked in post independence National Development Projects.

Prof.Ayittey conclude that: "Africa is poor because she is not free" and classifies Africa generation between the 'Cheetahs' and 'Hippso'. Cheetahs being the young generation which has decided not to play blame game of saying Africa is poor because of slave trade, colonialism or neo-colonialism. But have decided to find solution to African problems. The Hippos are the ruling 'vampire' elite rulling class who are corrupt and sucking the wealth of their people for personal benefit.  For some clarification you can watch and download Prof.Ayittey  Video from TED while speaking on Cheetahs vs Hippo.

What I agree with Ayittey is that, future of Africa lies in the heart, mind and hand of young generation which is ready to focus more on finding African solution for Africa problems. However, his classification between Cheetah vs Hippo is still unclear to me.

This is the book I am reading now and I expect to write full book review after finishing reading it. Next week I hope to meet James Shikwati, Director of Inter Regional Economic Network (IREN) who is among the 'Cheetah' commended by Prof Ayittey in his book. IREN is organizing Africa Resource Bank Meeting from 11th to 14th November 2009 at Kibo Palace, Arusha Tanzania.

Take time to watch his Video and read the book, as I beleive, there are alot to learn on how Africa, can become Self-Reliant.

--
Adam Jackson Foya
Mobile: +255 713 764 782
P.O.Box 42329 Dar Es Salaam,Tanzania
Blog: http://marafikiwavi tabu.wordpress. com/
Group: http://groups. google.co. tz/group/ marafikiwavitabu

"As much as you are critical, be constructive"

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[Adam Jackson Foya]

Baha.
I am by no means disagree by the role of slave trade, colonialism or neo colonialism in causing poverty in Africa. We need to take some enought time to analyse their role on our current situationBut for how long can we continue to play a 'blame' game to these causes? Why dont we take enough time to focus more finding solution for our problems? I have finished reading Ayittey book, and if he denies the role of slave trade and colonialism, then as per you words that will be insulting.

The question of who are these Cheetahs, deserve more thinking and debate. But to me the question will be 'Who are the agents of Change for Africa'? Is it the 'vampire' corrupt elite, petty bourgeoisie or THE PIMPS OF FREE MARKET? Who ever they are, they must be acceptable to the majority poor and be willing as per Prof Haroub Othman 'LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK'

By the way, World Bank has issued of Tsh 40bn to feed Tanzanians who are facing hunger.I am not saying people should not receive aid food. But this is a shame to Tanzania, a household with all the resources ans still can not feed it's people!

 

---

From: bernard baha <bahab...@yahoo.com>
To: marafiki...@googlegroups.com; Wanazuoni Tanzania <wana...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 5:01:53 PM

Subject: [wanazuoni] Re: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Africa Unchained-The Blueprint for Africa's Future by George B.N. Ayittey.

 

Adam,

 

I find this insulting to the history of  Africa when some one comes with a suggestion that we should not mention slave trade, colonialism or neo colonialism or rather currently neo liberalism in the making of African  poverty, Yes, when analysing the causes of poverty with regard to Africa one has to embark on a multidimensional view of  the subject matter. But if you ask me, my answer would be we have primary and secondary sources of poverty in Africa, I'l never buy the cheap politics of the likes of Ayyiteh as slave trade, colonialism and neo colonialism to me are the building stones or rather the foundation of subjugation, exploitation and eventual oppression of Africa in the world. The rest comes in after, I agree that their have been internal systemic factors that have also contributed in the making of African poverty but if we make a thorough analysis we'l end up with the conclusion that still even the internal factors have a direct linkage with what happened in the past, ours to the large extent have been what we call flag independence meaning that those who subjugated us in the past still call the shot!

 

We have answers in almost every thing that we do! all our plans have to be blessed by the world bank, IMF or rather to use the most democratic word (of course for environmentally userfriendly purposes to some of us) development patners! did this come accidentally? I understand Prof Ayyiteh is one of those economist who are trying to build a school of thought that  the idea of the market is infact not new to AFrica! according to this line of thinking working against the market and here I am referring to the work of BABA WA TAIFA and his colleagues especially those who advocated for Afrocan Socialism was and is considered as one of the problem towards achieving prosperity! I find this kind of thinking still in line with the modernization school of thought! So who are the Cheetahs of today! the connected, most privelleged class, the educated who have decided to take side, the petty bourgeoisie of today who are mere agents of  the multinationals and IFIs, or rather to copy from Comrade Chachage and sorry again for use of this term which may not be userfriendly for some of us THE PIMPS OF FREE MARKET!

 

Adam, Comrade.  I am waiting for your review and I hope you will accord it its deserved attention, Comrade Haroub used to walk with the tag in his car which if I remember properly had a message that Socialists have the right to speak! The answer to the African woes is that LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK and never think for them! I am sure once the people raise up against the oppressors and their agents, we have plenty of resources for us to share the national cake! ALUTA CONTINUA!

From: Adam Foya <adamfoya@gmail. com>
To: marafikiwavitabu@ googlegroups. com

Sent: Fri, November 6, 2009 3:53:52 PM
Subject: [Marafiki wa Vitabu] Africa Unchained-The Blueprint for Africa's Future by George B.N. Ayittey.

I am so greatfully and thankfully to Mama Demere Kitunga for borrowing me AFRICA UNCHAINED:THE BLUEPRINT FOR AFRICA'S FUTURE by George B.N. Ayittey who is also a Ghanian Economist and President of Free Africa Foundation. The book is very challenging and thought provoking. To some is very controvesial because Ayittey is criticing allot of convetional thinking and taking a different position from what many (possibly of us think). For example he criticise people like Nyerere, Nkurumah, Kenyatta and Kaunda for failing to look at the traditional settings when they embarked in post independence National Development Projects.

Prof.Ayittey conclude that: "Africa is poor because she is not free" and classifies Africa generation between the 'Cheetahs' and 'Hippso'. Cheetahs being the young generation which has decided not to play blame game of saying Africa is poor because of slave trade, colonialism or neo-colonialism. But have decided to find solution to African problems. The Hippos are the ruling 'vampire' elite rulling class who are corrupt and sucking the wealth of their people for personal benefit.  For some clarification you can watch and download Prof.Ayittey  Video from TED while speaking on Cheetahs vs Hippo.

What I agree with Ayittey is that, future of Africa lies in the heart, mind and hand of young generation which is ready to focus more on finding African solution for Africa problems. However, his classification between Cheetah vs Hippo is still unclear to me.

This is the book I am reading now and I expect to write full book review after finishing reading it. Next week I hope to meet James Shikwati, Director of Inter Regional Economic Network (IREN) who is among the 'Cheetah' commended by Prof Ayittey in his book. IREN is organizing Africa Resource Bank Meeting from 11th to 14th November 2009 at Kibo Palace, Arusha Tanzania.

Take time to watch his Video and read the book, as I beleive, there are alot to learn on how Africa, can become Self-Reliant.

--
Adam Jackson Foya
Mobile: +255 713 764 782
P.O.Box 42329 Dar Es Salaam,Tanzania

Blog: http://marafikiwavi tabu.wordpress. com/
Group: http://groups. google.co. tz/group/ marafikiwavitabu

"As much as you are critical, be constructive"

--~--~------ ---~--~-- --~------ ------~-- -----~--~ ----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Marafiki wa Vitabu - Friend's of Books" group.
To post to this group, send email to marafikiwavitabu@ googlegroups. com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to marafikiwavitabu+ unsubscribe@ googlegroups. com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups. google.co. tz/group/ marafikiwavitabu ?hl=en
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