The BN Village - View Single Post

Breadfruit · (#6 (**permalink**))

"The secret Europeans discovered early in their history is that culture carries rules for thinking, and that if you could impose your culture on your victims you could limit the creativity of their vision, destroying their ability to act with will and intent and in their own interest. The truth is that we are all 'intellectuals,' all potential visionaries."

Marimba Ani
Yurugu

I managed to attend Ani's presentation. She eloquently presented, for a period exceeding 90 minutes, the work from her book Yurugu.

A packed room of Africans were given Ani's concept of the ascill (the essence of a people culture; a culture's "DNA") and allowed to compare and contrast African cultural norms with those of Europeans.

She linked the psychology of Europeans to their behaviour and reminded us of how their behaviour has directly affected us (Slavery, colonialism, globalisation).

I read the book years ago and took on board the genius that Ani employed within her work. To dismantle and expose European insanity (western civilisation) by contrasting European culture to the African worldview, highlights not only why Europeans behave the way they do but the dangerous implications that occur when African people think like Europeans and adopt European culture.

Marimba Ani bought her work to life during her presentation and shared herself thru dialogue with the audience, making what was a complex analysis of culture, psychology, social interaction and politics, consistently interesting and enlightening. She spoke accurately, with clarity and passion throughout the presentation - from start to finish, reminding us of the obvious legitimacy that is an African-centred frame of reference for people who are unapologetically African.

I managed to speak to her that night and found Marimba to be warm and vibrating with humility during conversation.

We parted with her reminding me to think with an African mind.

Great evening