By Jimanze Ego-Alowes
TUE, JUN 09 2020-theG&BJournal- Writers whether they so say or not are teachers. Professor Chinua Achebe at least considered his role, principally, as that of a teacher. For him to write – even creative fables – is to teach. Apparently, his teaching was to rescue Africa from the morass of self-pity. And if the records are to be believed Achebe succeeded beyond measure.
Somehow many others have taken after Achebe, independently or as their models. But like all great writers, as was with Achebe too, their lessons are extra-graphological. That is the lessons they teach may also be mined out of the lives they live. One of such great stylish teachers must be Ms Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie.
Just the other day she – little sweet darling to the literary world – was reported as exercising the freedom to criticize the most powerful man in the world, Donald Trump. What was even more audacious was that Ms. Adichie is holing up in Trump’s own universe, America. And she was using very strong words against the Lord of the American manor, out there in America. Interestingly, as we write there are no news whatsoever that she is about to be deported or rusticated. Or that some other American fellow has reminded her ”common Nigga, you are a stranger here. Don’t pollute our land with your silly breath, just because you are allowed to breathe.” Meanwhile, as far as we know Ms. Adichie has not swapped her nationality, despite her long years and residence in America.
READ ALSO| Elders are archaeological if not anachronistic relics
https://govandbusinessjournal.ng/elders-are-archaeological-if-not-anachronistic-relics/
Down here, we were a little bit amused. Not for her. But for Nigerians’ lack of understanding of the fruitfulness and power of freedom. Nigerians are so medieval about freedom, it is difficult to characterize. Ok, take this. One dude had just signed in into one of those indigenous peoples Whatapp groups. To be on the right side of the lore he asked for the rules. And when it was published, one struck like an assassin’s dagger. What was it? It was a egregious requirement that on no account should the traditional ruler of the town be criticized. And for information, many of those in the group, who acquiesced to or approved the lore, are out there in America, enjoying like Ms. Adichie, the fruits and riches of freedom.
Now, here is a so called traditional ruler, whatever that means. He is a traditional ruler of a town as little in consequence as Trump’s right thumb is mighty in substance. Yet, the demand imposed on others is that such as he shall never be criticized? One would not exactly remember if they inputted, constructively to it – as if that means anything.
Anyway, one thinks such gung-ho enthusiasms are driven by ignorance. Ignorance, of both what criticism does and what freedom gifts humanity. The right to freedom of expression is not just something of an artifact. It has and comes with consequential, existential and economic implications – and this on positive notes. To summarize a key part of American supersized achievement is the entrenchment of freedom of criticism of anything conceivable by man, including god. In fact, one can recall, just months into Barack Obama’s presidency, one commentator appeared on CNN. His charge? Obama was the baddest gangster to have emerged from Chicago. Oh my God, our beloved Obama? But that’s the strength of America for you. And as you can be sure this Americanism is now on road-show throughout the enlightened world. Kings are shit. And they are told this to their faces in all enlightened jurisdictions.
However, it must be understood that freedom admits to an underlying tenet. It is that men can make mistakes. In fact, it is the very fact of being open to making mistakes and errors that makes us human. In other words, if you demanded that criticisms be only constructive, mistake-proof, a priori, then you have robbed us of our humanity. Our humanity is embedded in our errors. To resolve this dilemma man has invented an institution, a third party system – the courts system. They are set aside to resolve matters between disagreeing parties and adults.
So, if you felt that your critic went overboard, great. The best thing is for you to head to the courts. It is not for the system to abolish the chance of men ever going overboard. Well, it is not likely we shall even comment on the said king, finding him and his affairs infradig for our purpose. But one’s greatest worry is that the proud and independent Igbo nation is being tricked one lore after another to erect tyrannical structures over their worldview, their habitats and thus their gold edged destinies. Thank God I am Oru.
To summarize, what Adichie is doing is not just criticizing the most powerful man on earth. She is tele-teaching us, reminding us, that that is the better way to go, to achieving a greater life for all. More interesting, is that the fact of this sense of freedom is as Ofo na Ogu, as apple computers is American.
And we can affirm this. Nkwerre is a town I was to be part of its planned defense when the federal hordes were to invade. So, I have been around the town. There is one irresistible saw I will forever treasure having taken it from them. Kama Nkwerre ga awo gi uka ha wor gi nri. Loosely, it translates, rather than the Nkwerre people to stop canvassing their minds they did rather stop feeding the famished. That is an idiomatic statement that freedom of speech ranks above being well and alive. It is a plea that we live in the line of the eagle, in full purchase of flight and freedom, than like nwanza, in the deadness of a filled up stomach.
Now, to imagine how really free America is just this. Kindly imagine, that a young American writer has been with us for 10 plus years. And he went about hitting shit on Buhari. Hell, will be let loose. Lai Mohammed would call for his immediate deportation, declaring him idiotic. But boy, that is why, a key plank of why, Nigeria is poor.
Poor, pitiful Nigerians, for you all comments are to be taken as personal. So, you can’t listen to any thesis and think it impersonal, treating such as information, just information. As Aristotle says, those who can’t do, never get to be great. They remain pigmies. All else is in humor. Ahiazuwa.
Thinker’s Corner
Genius comes with a criminal but democratic mind. It is to undermine the gods, or have the men become gods too. Genius is our liberation from the myths, from the un-mathematical. Genius is in the risks thereof. Mother A’Endu.
Jimanze Ego-Alowes (PhD) is Author and public commentator
|twitter:@theGBJournal|email: info@govandbusinessjournal.com.ng|
