Searching for Nobility

Now that this year’s Nobels are in, we can all relax for the next 12 months and hope that, next year, our favourite high achiever will receive the Stockholm call. And while we wait, we may well reflect on the dearth of African names in the Prize’s century-long history. Before you descend on me and point out the 5 laureates in Literature and the similar number of Peace Laureates, let me say that what I moan about is the total absence of names in the lists of the hard sciences of Physics, Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine. I know: Africa needs as many peace laureates as it can get; God knows there is enough ongoing mayhem on the continent to engage platoons of peacemakers. Also, there must be thousands of scribblers among us capable of turning an elegant phrase or two sufficient to delight the soul. We need not worry about these.

Where there is a serious deficit is among the hardcore sciences. Here, there is as yet no reason to suppose that the continent is about to get its act together. But, as Africa enters its second half-century free from the imperial yoke, now is as good a time as any to consider how we can begin to put this anomaly right. I say begin, because producing laureates in these disciplines or indeed any other is a long-term investment project.

It starts by the creating an environment in which schools are engineered to allow children to dream; a society where universities and higher education institutions are free to think the unthinkable and speak the unspeakable. A society that encourages, celebrates and awards its achievers; one that ensures that its best stick around and do the things they are good at.

I am sure that we have all heard this before, but one of the most coherent looks at why Africa continues to under-achieve is that by Babashola Chinsman who, in a book entitled, “Uncommon Thinking,” has anatomised the continent’s ongoing crisis of dereliction. And not only that, he has proposed remedies too. This is a book I now regret not reading when it came out in 2006, but it is never too late, and those of you who haven’t, should get hold of it post haste.  Notwithstanding its minor imperfections, it would be the best $15.00 you ever spent.

Tell Fren Tru