Dear Franklin,
Knowing the dificult context of Africa's development, I am quite
impressed with what Imani was able to put together. Sypala 2009 was
a master piece of logistic efficiency, a testimony of the
outstanding quality of a dedicated, even if rather small, staff.
I came to Sypala reluctantly. For one, i could not, and still do
not, relate to the neo-liberal values that Sypala sought to
promote. I also had a few research commitments I was not too high
on putting on hold for a 'comprador' seminar.
But I came, and I do not regret it. Even though Sypala did not change my left leaning values; those values that predispose me to view the world through a materialist lens that is constructed by the impact of capital and its role in inputing an uncaring and indeed exploitative logic on
the patterns of relations within and among social formations;
I have learnt something.This is that even though we live in a world
that inevitably makes it difficult for the common people, for whom
the state ought to exist, to reproduce economically, many of the
entrepreneurs, the key drivers of the economy, are merely normal
people who wish to do things for themselves.
Somehow, in my deep resentment of the exploitative logic of
capitalism, I missed the obvious fact that most capitalists are
indeed good people, some of them visionaries in fact, and
accomodation could still, perhaps, be found within the
contradictions that plague our different conceptions of the world.
I am grateful for the respect with which you and your team treated
us and must say that it is a refreshing g new ideal in a generation
of falling standards.
I do hope to be able to get involved in subsequent programmes of
Imani and perhaps we will all be able to reach a reasonable
compromise on how better to run our world.
I may also be able to contribute to the research activities of
Imani, particularly in the areas of Democratization, Civil Society
and Resistance to Globalization. I will be happy if you can get me
more involved.
Thank you for the great opportunity and accept my very best regards
to Bright, Remy, Mavis and the rest of the team.
Sincerely,
Akin.
