More than a half century later after the independence movement and more than century after serious contact with European civilization, our beloved continent lags when it comes to technological progress. Superstitions still remain in force even among the African elite. Passion rather than reason is still the norm. Cultural alienation is on the rise. Most Africans living in cities cannot speak their native language without borrowing words from the English or French language.

I've always wondered why were the Arabs after the advent of Islam able to build so much in the 300 years that ensued. Or why was the European renaissance such a success that they rule the world to this day despite being far behind China at the time. Why did the Koreans that had the same level of economic development as Cote d'Ivoire in the 50s and beginning of 60s were able to surpass them. In short why other cultures are able to assimilate science and technology at such pace and why are we failing to do the same on our continent. Even if we are doing it, one has to agree that the pace is really slow and at this rate we will never catch up with the rest of world.

Despite the cultural differences of the Arabs, Europeans and Asians, there is one similarity to the renaissance they witnessed. All of these groups made progress while maintaining their language. The Arabs translated books from Greek to Arabic to spread knowledge as much as they can. It is in Baghdad that Muslims founded their school of translation, every Greek book they could lay their hands on was translated to their language.

The Europeans will do the same. They will build up from the knowledge left by the Arabs and translated thousands of books in Latin. Constantine of Carthage of the Toledo School of Translators translated multiple texts on medicine including the Canons of Medecine of Avicenna. He went ahead and founded a School of Medicine to spread the knowledge. Frederick II of Palermo had in his court intellectuals that translated the work of Arab astronomer Al-Farghini and Ptolemy's Almagest. Some of the books translated to Latin originally came from Greek intellectuals but was lost in Europe and they had to translated them back to Latin from Arab to have access to the knowledge. This is to name of few. For those interested in the influence of Islam of the European renaissance, a simple google research will answer your questions.
And more recently, the Japanese, Koreans translated European books in their native languages. This has contributed greatly to the amazing technological progress they have witnessed.

All of these groups did the same thing, absorb science and technology but retain their culture. They translated works from other languages to theirs not only to ease the learning on their people but also to enrich their culture and language. That in my opinion among others, is something we, as Africans, need to do.
Could you imagine how much we can fight ignorance if learning science in Hausa, Lingala, Swahili, Fulfulde is encouraged?

What is your opinion? Why do you think we still lag behind others in science and technology?

Omarbah: More than a half century later after the independence movement and more than century after serious contact with European civilization, our beloved continent lags when it comes to technological progress. Superstitions still remain in force even among the African elite. Passion rather than reason is still the norm. Cultural alienation is on the rise. Most Africans living in cities cannot speak their native language without borrowing words from the English or French language.

I've always wondered why were the Arabs after the advent of Islam able to build so much in the 300 years that ensued. Or why was the European renaissance such a success that they rule the world to this day despite being far behind China at the time. Why did the Koreans that had the same level of economic development as Cote d'Ivoire in the 50s and beginning of 60s were able to surpass them. In short why other cultures are able to assimilate science and technology at such pace and why are we failing to do the same on our continent. Even if we are doing it, one has to agree that the pace is really slow and at this rate we will never catch up with the rest of world.

Despite the cultural differences of the Arabs, Europeans and Asians, there is one similarity to the renaissance they witnessed. All of these groups made progress while maintaining their language. The Arabs translated books from Greek to Arabic to spread knowledge as much as they can. It is in Baghdad that Muslims founded their school of translation, every Greek book they could lay their hands on was translated to their language.

The Europeans will do the same. They will build up from the knowledge left by the Arabs and translated thousands of books in Latin. Constantine of Carthage of the Toledo School of Translators translated multiple texts on medicine including the Canons of Medecine of Avicenna. He went ahead and founded a School of Medicine to spread the knowledge. Frederick II of Palermo had in his court intellectuals that translated the work of Arab astronomer Al-Farghini and Ptolemy's Almagest. Some of the books translated to Latin originally came from Greek intellectuals but was lost in Europe and they had to translated them back to Latin from Arab to have access to the knowledge. This is to name of few. For those interested in the influence of Islam of the European renaissance, a simple google research will answer your questions.
And more recently, the Japanese, Koreans translated European books in their native languages. This has contributed greatly to the amazing technological progress they have witnessed.

All of these groups did the same thing, absorb science and technology but retain their culture. They translated works from other languages to theirs not only to ease the learning on their people but also to enrich their culture and language. That in my opinion among others, is something we, as Africans, need to do.
Could you imagine how much we can fight ignorance if learning science in Hausa, Lingala, Swahili, Fulfulde is encouraged?

What is your opinion? Why do you think we still lag behind others in science and technology?

All I can say to this is, a walli jam e mon bandirawo, ada selli? I enjoyed reading this entire passage and i do believe that it deserves some front page attention. You would definitely make a great leader one day in Africa with this kind of progressive mindset that you possess.

Food for thought.

Wise

Brb

Our problem started with Political corruption usually encompasses abuses by government officials such as embezzlement and cronyism, as well as abuses linking public and private actors such as bribery, extortion, influence peddling, and fraud, to mention but a few. In this regard, corruption threatens good governance, sustainable development, democratic process, and fair business practices.

I go read and comment when I wake up.

Ileya on ma mind

otijah: Brb

Lol brb on every thread, yiu dey dream abi. Now go back to sleep.

as long as we are still slaves to tradition which those in the village are not willing to let go. it has become a source for fleecing those that have stayed outside their traditional home for so long.

Do you expect me to read all this stuffs ??

Please, someone should read & summarize

Let see

All I can do here is quote Field Ruwe's article

He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”

I held my breath.

“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”

He looked me in the eye.

“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”

I was deflated.

[size=18pt]“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”
[/size]
He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”

The problem is....we prefer to share money rather than to use it. We would rather fight wars over how the oil money should be shared...instead of using that oil money to build things.

Most Africans are always perverse

Nice write-up but you're getting some things mixed up

Omarbah: More than a half century later after the independence movement and more than century after serious contact with European civilization, our beloved continent lags when it comes to technological progress.

I agree with you partly on this.

omarbah: Superstitions still remain in force even among the African elite. Passion rather than reason is still the norm. Cultural alienation is on the rise.

omarbah: Most Africans living in cities cannot speak their native language without borrowing words from the English or French language.

Now you're beginning to sound really gnomic, hard to understand. You want the Nigerians to lose their superstitions which are very much part of their culture, yet you want them to retain their languages. Thats impossible. Its like telling the Arabs to stop wearing their veil and gowns but to keep their language, Lol. My point is, Nigeria has been influenced by the west greatly during development and there's no way their languages would not be affected.

omarbah: I've always wondered why were the Arabs after the advent of Islam able to build so much in the 300 years that ensued. Or why was the European renaissance such a success that they rule the world to this day despite being far behind China at the time. Why did the Koreans that had the same level of economic development as Cote d'Ivoire in the 50s and beginning of 60s were able to surpass them. In short why other cultures are able to assimilate science and technology at such pace and why are we failing to do the same on our continent. Even if we are doing it, one has to agree that the pace is really slow and at this rate we will never catch up with the rest of world.

Here, i agree with you. Our leaders have always been our bane. I dont quite believe that we cant catch up though.

omarbah: Despite the cultural differences of the Arabs, Europeans and Asians, there is one similarity to the renaissance they witnessed. All of these groups made progress while maintaining their language. The Arabs translated books from Greek to Arabic to spread knowledge as much as they can. It is in Baghdad that Muslims founded their school of translation, every Greek book they could lay their hands on was translated to their language.

The Europeans will do the same. They will build up from the knowledge left by the Arabs and translated thousands of books in Latin. Constantine of Carthage of the Toledo School of Translators translated multiple texts on medicine including the Canons of Medecine of Avicenna. He went ahead and founded a School of Medicine to spread the knowledge. Frederick II of Palermo had in his court intellectuals that translated the work of Arab astronomer Al-Farghini and Ptolemy's Almagest. Some of the books translated to Latin originally came from Greek intellectuals but was lost in Europe and they had to translated them back to Latin from Arab to have access to the knowledge. This is to name of few. For those interested in the influence of Islam of the European renaissance, a simple google research will answer your questions.
And more recently, the Japanese, Koreans translated European books in their native languages. This has contributed greatly to the amazing technological progress they have witnessed.

All of these groups did the same thing, absorb science and technology but retain their culture. They translated works from other languages to theirs not only to ease the learning on their people but also to enrich their culture and language. That in my opinion among others, is something we, as Africans, need to do.

While it is true that translating books into their languages aided these countries' rennaissance, it is notable to note how difficult achieving the same feat on the African scene. First of all, the Arabs, Asians and Europeans have one major language in their countries which almost everyone understands, so translation is easy. Imagine doing that in Nigeria for example, which language would you translate into? Even if manage to translate into the three major languages, there's still a sizable population that do not understand any of those three languages. So you see how hard it is.

omarbah: Could you imagine how much we can fight ignorance if learning science in Hausa, Lingala, Swahili, Fulfulde is encouraged?

Good idea, but that would take quadruple the effort it took the Arabs, Asians et al. This is because everyone has to first become literate in the said languages, which to me is far fetched considering that it is discouraged in most basic schools.

omarbah: What is your opinion? Why do you think we still lag behind others in science and technology?

If we want to achieve anything, lets encourage our own, though teaching science in our languages seems far from possible. We should not bundle off our promising scholars 2 America or the U.K, where their brains will be tapped 4 d benefit of those countries.

Our problems start from colonization and later on corruption after independence.

All these continents you mentioned all have a common language spoken and understood by her citizens.


Which common language do you have in Nigeria? Pidgin English


So my friend...the fight should first be: which of the languages spoken in Nigeria should Nigerians adopt as a common language? And until that is done...we will still remain at our average level.


But then the big question is: Will other languages willingly go down for the one that will be adopted?

The grammar "Renaissance" sounds kinda strange and heavy in ma hair as i read..

ChiSun27: All these continents you mentioned all have a common language spoken and understood by her citizens.


Which common language do you have in Nigeria? Pidgin English


So my friend...the fight should first be: which of the languages spoken in Nigeria should Nigerians adopt as a common language? And until that is done...we will still remain at our average level.


But then the big question is: Will other languages willingly go down for the one that will be adopted?

adopting pidgin english as our common language is the best. Thats the only language everybody in nigeria understand

because the black man lacks unity. imagine a egba ijebu ilorin yorubas discrimating against each oda. how dem wan grow

Africa=COPY COPY

Omarbah: More than a half century later after the independence movement and more than century after serious contact with European civilization, our beloved continent lags when it comes to technological progress. Superstitions still remain in force even among the African elite. Passion rather than reason is still the norm. Cultural alienation is on the rise. Most Africans living in cities cannot speak their native language without borrowing words from the English or French language.
I've always wondered why were the Arabs after the advent of Islam able to build so much in the 300 years that ensued. Or why was the European renaissance such a success that they rule the world to this day despite being far behind China at the time. Why did the Koreans that had the same level of economic development as Cote d'Ivoire in the 50s and beginning of 60s were able to surpass them. In short why other cultures are able to assimilate science and technology at such pace and why are we failing to do the same on our continent. Even if we are doing it, one has to agree that the pace is really slow and at this rate we will never catch up with the rest of world.
Despite the cultural differences of the Arabs, Europeans and Asians, there is one similarity to the renaissance they witnessed. All of these groups made progress while maintaining their language. The Arabs translated books from Greek to Arabic to spread knowledge as much as they can. It is in Baghdad that Muslims founded their school of translation, every Greek book they could lay their hands on was translated to their language.
The Europeans will do the same. They will build up from the knowledge left by the Arabs and translated thousands of books in Latin. Constantine of Carthage of the Toledo School of Translators translated multiple texts on medicine including the Canons of Medecine of Avicenna. He went ahead and founded a School of Medicine to spread the knowledge. Frederick II of Palermo had in his court intellectuals that translated the work of Arab astronomer Al-Farghini and Ptolemy's Almagest. Some of the books translated to Latin originally came from Greek intellectuals but was lost in Europe and they had to translated them back to Latin from Arab to have access to the knowledge. This is to name of few. For those interested in the influence of Islam of the European renaissance, a simple google research will answer your questions.
And more recently, the Japanese, Koreans translated European books in their native languages. This has contributed greatly to the amazing technological progress they have witnessed.
All of these groups did the same thing, absorb science and technology but retain their culture. They translated works from other languages to theirs not only to ease the learning on their people but also to enrich their culture and language. That in my opinion among others, is something we, as Africans, need to do.
Could you imagine how much we can fight ignorance if learning science in Hausa, Lingala, Swahili, Fulfulde is encouraged?
What is your opinion? Why do you think we still lag behind others in science and technology?

Great post! There is so much wrong with Africa, it is just impossible to summarise. We will continue to be useless well into the future if we do not change back to how we were centuries/millennia ago.
I feel that we were on track but we changed. We let greed, hate and jealousy get the better of us. We let foreigners get the better of us. We scapegoated each other and let ourselves believe that the demise of our people is okay as long as it doesn't affect us directly. All of those great civilisations you mentioned had unity, trust and order in common.
If you think the current African states with their puppet leaders will accomplish anything then I suggest you rethink that. These so-called leaders do not work for the betterment of their people, they're the cancerous cell among us. They all cut dirty deals with foreigners before coming to power. It takes a real man to stand up to those fvckers and even then you will be betrayed by your closest friend. Take a look at what happened to Thomas Sankara as an example of how corrupt and greedy we can be just to get on the good side of a past colonial master. Blaise Compaoré cut dirty deals with France and undid everything Sankara fought for.

If you truly believe that being underneath another person gets you anywhere then you will remain there, until you realise that you are better than that and maybe you should be the one on top. Africans will remain underneath other people until they believe that they can create, achieve and do more than the Europeans/Arabs/Asians. The sad truth is that Africans either not ready for change or they don't want to change, they'd rather read the local newspaper and have their corrupt government officials tell them that things are going well despite people dying of hunger in front of them on a daily basis.

I came here to book space. #Ok shoot me.

corruption is a major reason

Ao can african developed? Wen our minds n souls were corrupted. D only function of an african on ds continent is to destroy odas life en use it 4 a stepping stones for individual greatness

One word for you bro our "value system"

@Op! So many causative factors, among which are:

* Cultural diversity; you don't expect the whole Nigeria to adopt just one indigenous language when there are over 250 of them.

* The Arabs believes that their language is 2nd to non because it's the language Allah speaks.

* Remove corruption and you'd see #Nigeria surpass all these country you mentioned in a twinkle of an eye. Just recently, we heard that some pension boss stole more N130 billion. Imagine if the money was channeled to its appropriate cause.

* In the aspect of religion, even some countries still hold on to their paganism e.g. Buddhism.

Right from the time of the european invasion on our lands, inequality became a canker worm in the soul of the lands.
People who associated with them were deemed superior and more sophisticated, hence the shift in paradigm from technology for self reliance to the massive pursuit of white collar jobs until recently.

The list is endless...

Africans are lazy

We shall see