Fishbowl Discussion Notes 12/17

Matt, Sarah, Jenny, Suzy, Noah, Juliana, & Evan discussed the question
How did European imperialism of the 19th century lead to African resistance to political, intellectual and cultural oppression?

What we're talking about is how the Europeans came in and suppressed the flourishing of African culture.  The Europeans came in with lots of manufactured goods that attracted the Africans and so they conformed easily.  Once the countries gained independence, there was a spark to rekindle tradional cultures. (Noah)

Even though the Europeans aren't there any more, their influence will always be there.  For example, there is a legacy of Christianity that remains today that is a symbol of European oppression. (Juliana)

There are a class of people who are entitled by the British, like in Half of a Yellow Sun.
Language is such an integral part of culture.  When the British imposed their language, they robbed Africans of part of their heritage.
Learning language also acts to replace memories and as generations are raised to speak the new language they have no way of learning the traditional stories in their native languages.
The entitled people in Yellow Sun aren't aware of their own arrogance.
Mr. Brown in TFA sets up schools in order to begin to erase the native culture.
Well it's not always bad to learn another language, but there is a need for choice.  The British imposed their language and religion so it's quite different.
In Yellow Sun, Olanna talks about how there are Africans who use British accents to feel like they are better than other, poor people who were not able to pay for an English Education.
Also, there's the changing of traditional names and the taking of British names, like Nwoye in TFA who changes his name to Isaac.
Also there's Kianene who tends to hang out more with white people and gets together with the English guy Richard.
If you are a wealthy African and you speak English, does that automatically mean that you are "trying to be white?"
Is Odenigbo, being an educated man, doing kind of the "white thing"?
There's two sides to being educated, there's the Africans who are educating themselves to become rich in the white man's world and there are those who wish to use education to overcome the white influence, like Odenigbo in Yellow Sun.
The Africans who are interested in maintaining traditional culture need to be super educated so that they are better equipped to resist the insidious kind of European oppression, that seems innocuous but is actually very dangerous.
In order to get ahead in Africa, one must get an education, and up until a generation or so ago, schools and universities were primarily English speaking.
What are the positives of colonization?
Colonization unified the disparate people of Africa.  It helped them see the negative sides of the oppression and organize against it.
It also helped them economicallly.  Their standard of living was raised.
Do you think it was worth it for the Africans to give up their tradional cultures for being part of the modern world.
I think the idea of Pan-Africanism is a positive outcome of colonization.
Do you guys see any of this happening in other parts of the world like Korea? Or is this a particularly African problem?
Africa is very rich in minerals and resources, so if they can pull off unification and can rise above colonization, they will be a strong international power, but colonization has stalled it somewhat.
Who is getting the positive effects of colonization in Yellow Sun?
There were Africans who were not resisting and they moved away from their culture so they could be wealthy.
The ones who resisted are the ones who have a rich sense on identity.
Looking back, it's hard to over-look the negative effects, but the positive effects are noticeable.
You can see that Nwoye is benefitting from the education, but he is losing his culture.  And when you look at Okonkwo he is trying to protect his culture...
They represent the two extremes.
Lots of people today also have this debate about staying with the ways of old or becoming modern and changing and adopting new ways.
Was it a good or bad thing that the Ibo stopped putting twins in pots to die in the forest?
Well there are definitely example of how Christianity has abused people.  It's hard to say, coming from an American's point of view to say that someone's culture from Africa 120 years ago is wrong...
It's important to realize it's a belief, you can't tell someone their belief is wrong.  Morality is relative to cultures.
Everyone uses their beliefs to justify their actions.
When you get into debating whose belief is "rights", you will never have a winner, or a consensus.  It's not an effective discussion.