East African intellectual community
Abstract
This thesis sets out to examine the East African intellectual
stratum in terms of its origine, institutional bases, membership,
relations with government, party and society, cultural debates and!
socio-political thought, within the overall framework of colonialism,
underdevelopment and persisting neo-colonial economic and cultural
relations. It posits a definition of the intellectual which, by
focussing on qualitative thought, cultural validation and social
activism, takes into account not only the nature of the intellectual's
thought and the structures and contexts in which it is articulated
and disseminated, but his relationship with structures of discontent
or dissent in society as well. It is argued that while East Africa
possesses a certain cultural homogeneity which is the product of the
subjection to the rule of a single colonial power, the development
of inter-territorial institutions such is Makerere, and the diffusion
of Swahili culture, different socio-economic and political systems in
Kenya and Tanzania in particular have affected intellectual life
deeply. The differences have affected not only intellectual debates
about the nature, redefinition and role of institutions such as the
press and universities, but thought about the nature of postinde;
endence state and society as well. Universities, newspapers,
journals, publishing houses and theatre are examined as employers of
intellectual personnel, channels of articulation and dissemination,
and the debate about their redefinition and role In the light of
African traditions, European cultural domination, and development
requirements is explored. The social backgrounds of intellectuals
are examined as a way of showing how thought, occupational choice,
perceptions of role, and position in society have differed in terms
of generation and to some extent country, and it is suggested that the
wedge between pre- and post-independence generations is crucial in
explaining the importance of different intellectual influences and
ideological orientations. Many of the problems which complicate
intellectual role definition are considered. Most have their roots
in the changes wrought by colonialism, and include language, literacy,
and cultural factors, the intellectual's position of marginality and
lack: of recognition in his own society, and the problem of relating
to intellectual traditions. The debate about the nature of
intellectual role is examined, and three strands which loosely
correspond to cultural nationalist, scientific socialist, and individ¬
ualistic positions are identified. Intellectual ooncerns with the
recovery of initiative in history and cultured reassertion are examined,
and an attempt is made to show how these concerns tend to underplay the
importance of the colonial impact and the integration of African
societies into the international capitalist system. The three major
critical responses to cultural nationalism, African socialism and
African humanism are examined, especially the Marxist critique which
seeks to undermine the claims of African socialism and to establish
the relevance and applicability of a flexible Marxist thought. In
the final section of the thesis, intellectual interpretations of the
post-independence situation are briefly examined, with a special
emphasis being given to the Tanzanian radical intelligentsia.