The Limitations of African Cultures, By Toyin Falola
Adebayo Ajadi
https://toyinfalolanetwork.org/the-limitations-of-african-cultures/
Cornelius Hamelberg
“And if you're the Prodigal Son, my friend
Then you're the one, you
Left taking your only possession
Your culture “
(Prodigal Son by Steel Pulse )
Initial reaction:
It could be an inner sense of cultural chauvinism or cultural resilience that makes one feel antagonistically disposed towards the very title “Limitations of African Cultures” by Ojogbon. However, on second thoughts, apart from e.g. some practical limitations on polygamy ( limitations on how many wives one man may be legally or illegally permitted to ”have”) suggesting any unwarranted limitations on our great African culture/s - including the Great African Music would be uncharacteristic of Ojogbon, and so the inner voice cautions, after all - God forbid, since he cannot be accused of being “ Eurocentric” it would be better to suspend your intolerance and any pre-formed hostility to whatever notions of ”limitations" Ojogbon may have. It’s not a matter of ”feet running to do evil”, you don’t judge a book by its cover and you don’t rush to some hasty judgment either. First take note of what Ojogbon says on the matter , and if you don’t like some of it, then wait for some level-headed response from the likes of Chika Okeke-Agulu and from the moral mountain, Nimi Wariboko.
Remember, point number 1 in Pirkei Avot :: be deliberate in judgment
and don’t forget; criticism is not a crime
Demba Conta ; School Days
Toyin Falola
Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2025 5:02:59 PM
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Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: The Limitations of African Cultures, By Toyin Falola
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Cornelius Hamelberg
Dear Ojogbon,
Unfortunately, I missed the live and direct transmission of your Makerere lecture ( like the possibility of time travel for the believer, and the thrill of live and direct listening to Jesus delivering his eternal “Sermon On The Mount”) but I have just read the printed version which is a depth charge challenging some cherished beliefs and normative practices now being impacted by new realities such as notions of ”same sex marriage” that are part of ”modernity”.
From that lecture this sentence for instance gives much pause for reflection 👍
“These same traditions and customs that protect identity can also resist necessary change, stifle innovation, and underpin inequalities. To create a course for the progressive, open societies, Africa’s future demands that Africans be willing to challenge the limitations of their cultural legacy.”
Reading that sentence I thought of the various phases that Europe went through, such as witch hunting and witch burning , and in recent decades in Africa the outlawing of “Female Genital Mutilation” which has been previously practised in Africa for centuries and in the name of freedom, is still being stoutly defended in various parts of Africa as part of Africa’s proud cultural heritage.
Self-evidently ( sky’s the limit)
“All cultures have their limitations”
According to one tradition
the devil (useful idiot)
wasn’t satisfied
he wanted change
he committed a crime
he criticised the Almighty
so his ass got kicked
out of Heaven
Not a trick question:
talking about limitations
when it comes to creative freedom
in this interconnected world
our so called global village
with every manner
of cross fertilisation
where does one culture end
and another culture begin ?
For example when I celebrate Soukous,
creative adaptation and innovation
Apala purist Baba Kadiri
real African
original
Yoruba cultural chauvinist
shmiles and tells me
that’s “Spanish Music”
Where is Africa?
Where is France?
Where is New Orleans ?
Where did Jazz begin?
This should smoke him out:
He ( Baba Kadiri)
also wants me to believe
that in the beginning was the word
that there was
no
prostitution or word for prostitute
( “Ashawo”)
“the world’s oldest profession”
in the Yoruba Language
before the evil white man (pirates)
came and mucked up everything
with their missionaries.
Hence perhaps very soon
if not already too late
should we or should we not
be thinking of preserving
of imposing some limitations
some boundaries and borders
some reservation culture
for our endangered species
and our forests ?
Cornelius,
cosmic ignoramus
is only
asking
“Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope to turn”
etc etc etc