THE BELIEVE IN SUPERSTITION, NON-INQUISITIVENESS AND LACK OF RECORD

Senathon Ipia (+234 7052802574)

It is often argued that sub-Sahara Africa made no contribution to world civilization. But unarguably resources from its soil constitute human and material resources used to attain modernization – from agricultural to industrial society. Slaves from this part of Africa performed menial jobs in plantation farms allowing their masters time for scientific discoveries and engineering inventions. And raw materials from Africa helped maintain the relevance of European inventions.

Perhaps, the reason for which the argument that sub-Sahara Africa had no contribution to world civilization is tenable is that before colonialism, no discoveries or scholarly works are attributable to sub-Sahara Africa.

The greatest undoing of black Africa in civilization and modernization was their believe in superstition, which discouraged inquisitiveness, and the lack of record of their few meaningful discoveries and findings. Happenings – whether positive or negative – were attributable to some gods. Mishaps or tragedies arising from the quest for discoveries and knowledge were simply attributed to some gods – that such moves probably offended some gods – so others should stay clear and never follow suit. This attitude killed inquisitiveness and limited discoveries and the frontiers of knowledge by black Africans.  

Absence of record (written account) ensured that people of like minds never get inspired from the works of others, since such works were never recorded, let alone published. Usually, publications of discoveries or findings shows the extent of work by an inquirer, brings about awareness and arouses the interest of like minds on a subject-matter, prompting further research, leading to more discoveries or findings – advancing the frontiers of knowledge.

Owing to the absence of written accounts, Oral Tradition was the means by which discoveries/findings were communicated. This form of passing information and knowledge resulted in large scale loss of facts and limited the reach or spread of invaluable ideas. Even knowledge for living contained in the Holy Book would not have been handed down from generation to generation if there were no written account of God’s involvement in human affairs.

One major accelerator to modernization in Europe was the invention of printing.  The publication, for example, of Adam Smith’s work “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” had a ripple effect on the study of economic phenomena by others who showed interest in Economics as a discipline. Not withstanding its limitations, the publication of Thomas Malthus’ work on Population aroused the consciousness of population study and the need for sustainable use the earth’s resources. Isaac Newton’s publication on Physics had ripple effect on the study of Physics. The story is not different in Chemistry, Medicine, Engineering, Business and so on.

So, before the coming of Europeans, believe in superstition, non-inquisitiveness and lack of written account (record) of discoveries were the “forces” that held back black Africa from breaking into civilization and modernization. With imperialism, European civilization and modernization was brought upon us abruptly, so there was no gradual evolution of civilization and modernization in black Africa.

And because civilization and modernization of the continent of Africa did not follow a natural evolutionary process, it did not augur well. You see, you easily blend with what you copy than with what is imposed on you. Owing to the ‘intervention’ by Europeans, African societies seem to have skipped some stages in human societal development towards modernization. Perhaps, this explains why African countries are grappling with problems of development in this modern day. One may therefore assert that the birth of Africa countries was premature. (This is NOT a suggestion that Africa should return to the bad old days). But if African countries are premature, then we Africans need to invent "incubators to incubate" our countries towards development.                 

                                       

Yes, I recognize that through out ancient times, stories of interference in the affairs of a people by others abound, so imperialism was inevitable. And I recognize that, in history, progress is contagious. For instance, developments with one western European nation soon spread to others. As Britain had colonies, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal followed suit – mostly facilitated by the immeasurable benefit of written account of discoveries. Perhaps, Mungo Park’s written account of his expedition in West Africa, as contained in his book “Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa”, provided the French a rough idea of how to penetrate West Africa through the River Niger and what to expect from the locals and the terrain – and the French took advantage of it, as the present day countries along the River Niger, except Nigeria, are former French colonies. So, European’s attitude of recording and publishing discoveries had it going for them in human civilization and modernization.

Again, in contrast to Africans, Europeans showed no attitude of believe in superstition. For instance, prior to Mungo Park’s exploration of Africa, to pave the way for British imperialism and the ensuing economic benefits, Major Daniel Haughton, had died while trying to accomplish the mission. Yet Park proceeded with the same mission, together with some compatriots, who like him perished in the expedition. He had, however, published the outcome of his first voyage and the journal of his second voyage was retrieved. An inquiry into what caused their fate was made, and decisions were made. And just few decades after; territories in present day Nigeria and other territories in West Africa had fallen under British occupation – the ultimate purpose of the activities of the explorers. So, unlike Africans, Europeans showed no believe in superstition, but engaged in inquisitiveness for more discoveries and further the frontiers of knowledge paving the way for civilizations and modernization, with the impetus of documentation and publication of results of discoveries.   

            

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