"The Snake As a JAMBite: Buhari's Animal Kingdom and Its Metaphor" by Sesan Michael Johnson

"The Snake As a JAMBite: Buhari's Animal Kingdom and Its Metaphor" by Sesan Michael Johnson

Without much ado; as Buhari-led government prepares to clock three years, one can say the government has been characterised by different exoteric, eclectic, dramatic and comical episodes. Since last weekend, the hottest news in naija is the JAMB's nurtured snake that bellied #36m. It's a paradox, that the same JAMB was reported sometimes ago by this government to have remitted an outpouring income into the coffers of the FG.

Be it from the western, African or eastern paradigm; the use of animal metaphor in historical narration is endemic. Take for instance; the Yoruba folklores are characterised with the symbolism of tortoise (ijapa) and other animals. Typically, animal stories and characterisation as well as the intersections between human agency and animal instincts are used to expose the atrocities of public office holders and to derive lessons for the public. Often among the Igbos and the Yorubas these folklores, stories and mythologies are propagated and proliferated at the public spheres under the moon light in the night. Whereas, today's public sphere is fast becoming the Internet under the ultra violet lights/rays of the social media (Facebook, Twitter etc). In another article I had elucidated on how and why the social media is now today's public sphere. Specifically, I made use of Manuel Castell's theory of mass communication as my tool of analysis.


Without mincing words, Baba Buhari has been referred to as the Lion (please, read my "The Lion King and the Band of Hyenas"). We are also aware of how the rats occupied the throne and chased away the Lion King (please, read my 'Buhari and the Mischief of Rattus Rattus'). Cow Colony is still an ongoing hot debate in our polity. Now, we have a mysterious snake that swallowed #35m at the JAMB office. What can I say? For me this shows to tell us that when man couldn't explain an issue/event particularly within the remix of its causality, they tend to romance animal symbolism/metaphor and/or animal historiography as a means of historical escapism.


Well, have you observed that the use of animal symbolism in recent times just like before is becoming a currency? What would you say of 'Operation Crocodile Smiles', 'Operation Pythons Dance' and the latest 'Operation Cat Race'. Anyway, the world is about 'Rat Race', lobatan!


By the way, the 'Eagle' (EFCC) has promised to deal with the Snake (the JAMBite). I only hope, the eagle will not be too angry, I mean too hungry to the extent of not just arresting the snake but swallowing up both the snake and the loot. Remember, when the eagle soars to the mountain top, it will go beyond the reach of the Lion King.


Sesan Johnson a historian, essayist and conversationist. He's a public intellectual available to discuss national issues on the radio, TV and the New Media, 08149382121, smbafrica@gmail.com

"SMB's Historiography, Alaafin's Philosophy and Falola's Knowledge Model" by Sesan Michael Johnson

This piece is just a re-enactment of the concordant echoes from the ongoing Toyin Falola @65 Conference here in UI, Ibadan, Nigeria. In this conference, over 300 scholars are presenting papers. The academic cloud here is tick with the array of academic giants such as Gloria Emeagwali, Akin Alao, Femi Osofisan, Femi Mimiko, Ademola Ajayi, CBN Ogbugbo, etc.

Characteristically, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi III inspired the audience with Yoruba's knowledge systems and spiritism. Iku baba Yeye, Omo iku, omo arun, omo adanu. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola the governor of the State of Osun took his time to elucidate the meaning of the praise song (Oriki) of the imperial majesty. Since Alaafin is the son of Iku (death), Aisan (disease), hence, death and and disease can not kill their son. This dos not mean the King will not go the way of his ancestors. Alaafin posited that we were made from the earth and that all we eat and use come from the earth, hence, one will surely return to Mother Earth. No doubt, this is a pointer to the deep philosophy of the Yoruba even before contacts with western philosophy. There's reference to #Sanmo #Meje in Yoruba's cosmogony indicating the planetary system of the universe even before the era of Aristostles and Socrates.How did they get this? Our ancestors had expertise in astrology and environmentalism.

Our ancestors have the knowledge of geography and their environment. They were not fools and idiots. Let's embrace and cherish African indigenous knowledges. Premised on experimental analysis of material cultures of the Yorubas, our ancestors had proven to have expertise in iron and glass technology btw 1000 and 1800 AD. According to Eluyemi, our ancestors are material scientists.

My paper "Recasting Historical Epistemology and Scientific Discourse in Africa' advocates for new alternative knowledge systems centre on African IK. Scientific discourse in Africa must be freed from the western paradigms. Calculatedly, we must demolish cultural-cum-educational imperialist archetypes which are currently shaping how scientific knowledge is produced and taught in order to reinvent Africa.

I join others to celebrate this African best... Toyin Falola.... Happy birthday sir. The Bobapitan of Ibadanland

‘Recasting Historical Epistemology & Scientific Discourse in Africa’ - JOHNSON Sesan Michael

‘Recasting Historical Epistemology & Scientific Discourse in Africa’
- JOHNSON Sesan Michael

Abstract:
Using the fluidity of past scientific imaginings in pre-colonial Yoruba history, this paper frowns at the major current trajectory of historical epistemology and scientific discourse in Africa. First, the paper sees history as science. Second, it argues that scientific discourse must be freed from the hegemonic western paradigms in order to re-route it to cultural foundations in science and technology that existed in pre-colonial Africa. Finally, this paper opines that to move forward, Africa must look inward into its past. Therefore, this paper advocates for new alternative knowledge system in an attempt to demolish cultural-cum-educational imperialism which is currently shaping how scientific knowledge is produced in Africa in order to reinvent the continent.

              As Presented at THE TOYIN FALOLA @65 CONFERENCE

THEME: AFRICAN KNOWLEDGES AND ALTERNATIVE FUTURES
THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA 29-31; JANUARY 2018