Save the Minorities
I was very interested in reading your story about "Retaining Roots" in your April magazine and the efforts being made to save the Dongba ethnic group from extinction. In northern Tanzania around Lake Eyasi a tribe of hunter/gatherers called Hadzabe share the same fate. Their numbers are fast dwindling and these hardy bush people who have survived through almost 50,000 years of everything nature can throw at them are now fearing extinction. There are less than 1000 of Hadzebe left. They are the closet family, connection to the San Bushmen of the Kalahari in Southern Africa.
There are many reasons why ethnic groups face extinction, but the most obvious one is that they are marginalized with the rush of "development" and their land is taken without due consultation or consideration. The American Indians and Australian Aborigines are other prime examples. When governments fail to acknowledge their minority groups until it is too late it says a lot about the state. It is said that a society's civil liberties and values are most clearly seen in the way it treats its most vulnerable members, the elderly, children and minorities. In Africa it seems many minority group become tourist attractions just in order to survive. We need to ask ourselves how these precious groups who are so old and have so much history about life on this planet are so neglected. It is always a case of major panic when the last two or three members of these minority groups are left standing before everyone starts to run around shouting save them, save them! While the action should be taken by the state to make sure all its people are well cared for, society can also help by being more aware of the people who make up the nation's history. We all need to remember that extinction is permanent. Let's preserve and make sure all our ethnic minorities are well looked after long before the threat of extinction appears.
Barbara Antonie
Tanzania
Colonial Campus Memories
Reading your article about "Unraveling African Universities" took me back to my own university days Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. It is just as you described. Admittedly we were taught very little about Africa and the vibrant spirit of our beloved continent. Our professors were died in the wool colonialists out in Africa to achieve some romantic agenda of being in an exotic place in a cotton suit with an accent we could hardly understand. The culture we were taught was a million miles from our own. Yet to many students the very fact of being taught by British professors was an attraction to be on campus. Our own culture and spirit was indeed manipulated in the courses and everything took on the viewpoint of the empire. John Otim is quite correct when he said that the grounds and buildings of the university, with all their elegance, easily covered over the fact that we were being led along a path of superior (lecturers) vs inferior (students). It was always a case of "our way is the right way and you are here to learn that right way." It is surprising that many of us who were students from that time went on to find our way in life and achieve our own degree of success. The old colonial universities of Africa were certainly an example of how not to teach to fertile minds and despite the pomp and splendor of the surroundings the agenda of "keeping the natives in their place" was ever present.
Kambari Ntishinga
Uganda
Doing Business in China
I am learning a lot about China from reading your magazine. One thing I would like to see is some advice about how to do business in China. I heard from other businesspeople who trade there that things are done very differently in terms of "red tape" and procedures. I am interested in doing business with China but have little understanding of how to approach the people there and also how to find the regulations needed. You need to cater to the small businessperson/entrepreneur and not just the big guys as it also the ordinary folk who are your readers. I hope you can publish my letter and your Editor can consider my request.
Wanda Khumalo
Botswana
Book Needs Obama
After reading the review of the book Nairobi to Shenzhen in your April issue I found myself agreeing with the reviewer. I have read the book and bought it thinking there would be references to author Mark Ndesandjo's brother President Barak Obama. I was disappointed to find there was no connection mentioned.
It is almost as if this subtle omission, despite being premeditated, is a PR move. Leave out the tantalizing bits and try to get by on the story, yet knowing that people know who his brother is. A little too obvious for my cynical mind. The book needed that push to make it stand up and be noticed.
Perhaps readers in Africa might find this book interesting with its insights (although mundane) about Chinese life and an African in a relationship with a Chinese lady. You cannot make an omelet without breaking an egg.
President Obama is an understanding and generous man, I don't think he would have had any problem being mentioned in his brother's book.
Jacob Molefe
South Africa
Letters are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor at chinafrica@yahoo.cn or faxed to the Editor at ChinAfrica 086-10-68326015
We reserve the right to edit letters for space restraints. |