Renowned Nigerian historian and African Studies scholar at the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Toyin Falola, has called on African leaders and the youth not to abandon their cultural heritage in favour of Western ideologies.
Speaking during a public lecture organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Falola stressed the importance of preserving African identity while adopting technological advancements.
He urged a balanced approach to development, calling for the integration of culture and technology to drive the growth of African societies.
According to him, Africa must embrace a “plural knowledge system” that blends Western and indigenous knowledge rather than solely depending on one.
Prof. Falola lamented what he described as “epistemic injustice” done to Africa’s ancestral science and history by Western narratives. He noted that African historians and their contributions have been marginalized and damaged, calling for greater attention to the continent’s intellectual legacy.
He recommended that African universities begin to develop new courses that merge cultural and technological studies to ensure both sectors complement each other effectively.
“Africans must create new ideas and link culture with technology to fully benefit from a plural knowledge system,” he emphasized.
He indicated that the starting point in the reformation of any society is history and culture contrary to claims based on science and history, emphasizing the Africans to prioritize their native languages.
He further said, “If you think Westerners have abandoned their cultures, you are making a mistake. You can not do your degree in Texas, where i live without doing Texas History and Texas politics. You will not graduate.”
Prof. Falola also highlighted the importance of protecting African languages and warned against losing cultural identity in the pursuit of modernity.
While acknowledging the influence of Western ideologies, he insisted that Africa has valuable knowledge to offer and should not be merely a recipient of external ideas.
He concluded by stating that while science and technology are essential for societal progress, they must evolve alongside and not at the expense of Africa’s cultural heritage.
We aren’t sacrosanct but journalists must report fairly – Justice Dzamefe
