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Social and Religious Concerns of East African: a Wajibu Anthology

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Social and Religious Concerns of East African: a Wajibu Anthology Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change Series II, Africa, Volume 10 Social and Religious Concerns of East African: A Wajibu Anthology Edited by GERALD J. WANJOHI G. WAKURAYA WONJOHI The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy Copyright © 2005 by The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy Gibbons Hall B-20 620 Michigan Avenue, NE Washington, D.C. 20064 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Social and religious concerns of East Africa : A Wajibu anthology / edited by Gerald J. Wanjohim, G. Wakuraya Wonjohi – 1st ed. p.cm – (Cultural heritage and contemporary change. Series II, Africa; vol. 10) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Africa—Civilization. 2. Kenya—Civilization. I. Wanjohi, G.J. II. Wanjohi, G. Wakuraya. III. Wajibu. IV. Series. DT14.A374243 2005 2005007044 967—dc21 CIP ISBN 1-56518-221-9 (pbk.) TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement vi Preface vii Foreword ix PART I. AFRICAN CULTURE Chapter 1. In Search for an African Identity Constantine M. Mwikamba 13 Chapter 2. African Traditional Religion and Inculturation Aylward Shorter 25 Chapter 3. Aspects of Sharing among Africans Karega Munene 35 Chapter 4. ‘That’s Our African Culture’: Thoughts on Selective Cultural Preservation Valerie Kibera 41 Chapter 5. African Marriage, Past and Present Gerald J. Wanjohi 47 Chapter 6. The African Family: Where Are the Fathers? Justus Mbae 53 Chapter 7. The Unmarried African Female: Does She Have Any Rights? Njeeri Kang’ethe 61 Chapter 8. Proverbs for Transformation: Working with Caregivers John Eybel 67 Chapter 9. ‘You Faked Me Out’: Sayings of East African Urban Youth J.G. Healey 75 Chapter 10. Understanding the Art of Africa George Mclnnes 83 PART II. THE CHALLENGE OF LEADERSHIP Chapter 11. Structuring the National Philosophy James Good 91 Chapter 12. Leadership: Kenyatta and Nkurumah. G. Macharia Munene 97 Chapter 13. Government by Tribe or Government by Political Parties? Daniel Gachukia 113 Chapter 14. Politics and Integrity:A Challenge in Political Leadership D. Kaketete Orwa 119 Chapter 15. Leadership: A feminine View Agnes Chepkwony 127 Chapter 16. Beyond the Women’s Decade: Women’s Political Participation Maria Nzomo 133 PART III. EDUCATION Chapter 17. The Universities and Indigenous Development in Africa Chukuka Okonjo 143 Chapter 18. Paulo Freire’s Development Education Methodology Francis Mulura 155 Chapter 19. Basic Education Is for All F.X. Gichuru 165 Chapter 20. Towards a Pedagogy of Hope G.A. Bennaars 173 Chapter 21. Authenticity and Education in Zaire Muhirigwa Rusembuka 181 Chapter 22. Social Ethics in Kenya: Education or Indocrination? Justus Mbae 187 Chapter 23. Education for Environmental Awareness. Assumpta Belinda Rego and Gathoni Muthoka 197 Chapter 24. The Student at the University: The Expectations and Reality Joyce Wangui Kimani 203 PART IV. HUMAN RESOURCES, DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT Chapter 25. Cultural Attitudes and Equality of the Sexes: Forever Incompatible? Chiarunji Chesaina 209 Chapter 26. Hurdles to Meaningful Integration of Asians in Kenya Rasna Warah 217 Chapter 27. The Place of the European in Kenyan Society Donald Thomas 223 Chapter 28. The Place of the Mentally Handicapped in the Modern World Jean Vanier 229 Chapter 29. Environment and Development: Mutual Interests and Safeguards? Jimoh Omo-Fadaka 235 Chapter 30. The Treatment of Prisoners in Africa J. Manakukaama Nsereko 243 PART V. THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY Chapter 31. The Individual and Society in African Literature Henry Indangasi 255 Chapter 32. The Christian Psychotherapist Leonie Boland 261 Chapter 33. The Therapeutic Journey Frances Randall 269 Chapter 34. The Individual in Society: Focus on the African Family Ciriaka Kithinji 275 Chapter 35. The Artists and Society: Some Comments Elimo Njau 281 Chapter 36. Knowledge of Self, Religion and Mental Health Priscilla Kariuki 285 Chapter 37. Interpersonal Relations: A Reflection on Buber’s Work Gerald J. Wanjohi 291 Chapter 38. The University Don as Citizen and as Academic Okoth Okombo 297 PART VI. VIOLENCE, RELIGION AND DIALOGUE Chapter 39. Religion: A boon for Universal Unity Verdi Ram Sharma 303 Chapter 40. Public and Private Faith: Socrates and St. Paul in Debate Gerald J. Wanjohi 307 Chapter 41. "Power" in African Religion Laurenti Magesa 313 Chapter 42. Dialogue between Muslims and Christians: How a Better Understanding of History Can Help Luigi Clerici 319 Chapter 43. The Thin Line between Fundamentalism and Fanaticism Cecil McGarry 325 Chapter 44. Christianity and Human Liberation Francis Gichia 337 Chapter 45. Violence: Causes and Responses Aylward Shorter 347 Chapter 46. On the Meaning of Religion Eugene Hillman 353 Index 367 PREFACE GEORGE F. McLEAN Twenty years is almost a generation. It permits one cohort to show what it could do and what it passes on undone to the next generation. It provides time for hope, time for hard experience and time to readjust those hopes. During the last 20 years the review Wajibu in Nairobi, Kenya has been an active force in the life of the nation. Founded by Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Wanjohi and a few others, it has attempted not merely to report on what is happening, but to bring together a broad spectrum of knowledgeable and concerned persons to identify the important issues for the people, to uncover the sources of difficulties, and to suggest the path ahead. The authors have come from all sectors of the populace and have brought to the task broad experience in school and government, church and civil society. Together and cumulatively they constitute an incomparably rich body of participant observers in the life of the nation, bound together by a deep concern for tis welfare that of its people – their people. There is among theme deep capability for cultural analysis, long experience in public service, and exceptional reflective competency based in the human sciences and the humanities. This is civil society at its best. The result of their work has always been impressive as people have looked forward to the next issue of Wajibu and its social commentary and prescription. Brought together from over the time span of 20 years, these articles constitute a brilliant diamond of a thousand of faces, each reflecting a new ray of wisdom. For a people in pilgrimage these essays of social commentary provide the wise leadership that no single voice could command. The essays are divided into six parts: 1. African Culture, 2. Leadership, 3. Education, 4. Human Resources and Their Development, 5. The Individual and Society, and 6. Religion and Dialogue. Together the vision is well rounded, ever serious and insightful. Part I takes up the issues of African identity, as well as the use and abuse of such terms as: “African identity,” “African culture,” and “the African way.” It examines family as the crucible in which African culture has been formed and transmitted, as well as its present difficulties in fulfilling these roles. Finally, it turns to the symbols in which this identity is expressed in language as well as in art. Part II on leadership compares the models and resources received from Kenyatta and Nkrumah, the difficulties of wedding tribal with national self-identities and loyalties, and their implications for integrity in politics. All this is then situated in the dynamic, but too slow, expansion of the political power of the women of the country. Part III studies the great project of every people: the education of its young. This must first of all be a popular effort for the education of all. As such it must be in terms related to life and suffused with confidence in the people and hope that they can progress. This must be enriched by integrating ethical and environmental concerns. A report by a university student recounts her hopes and their disillusionments; it calls upon all to better care for the future generation. Part IV on human resources looks specifically into the various sectors of the population to examine how they can be integrated effectively into the general society: women, Asians, Europeans, the handicapped and even prisoners. Part V bring together a series of essays on the individual in relation to society. Some are concerned with the values of therapy in aiding this process of assimilation; others focus on the role of the family, religion and philosophy. An interesting reflection treats the interrelation between one’s special competencies (here those of the university don) to one’s life as a citizen. Part VI treats religion and dialogue. The essays treat the general meaning and impact of religion as empowering the people. They attend to the delicate work of negotiating such sensitive junctures as the relations between different religions and the balance between fundamentalism and functionism. In the end, the continuing public task of religion is the establishment of a deep liberation of each citizen and of peace for the entire people. In sum the volume realizes excellently the purpose of an anthology: to bring together some of the best writing and thinking of Wajibu over the last 20 years. Few areas are missed, all are treated with deep and wise concern. Despite the many human problems and dilemmas of our times, with authors such as these being given voice through the wonderful and continued work of Wajibu there is real hope for the future. May Wajibu continue, for a thousand years! FOREWORD GERALD J. WANJOHI G. WAKURAYA WANJOHI This anthology owes its existence to Professor George F. McLean, Secretary of the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP), Washington, D.C. (www.crvp.org). He asked the publisher of Wajibu (a journal of social and religious concern) whether we could bring together some articles from the journal for publication by the RVP. He had known Wajibu since its founding in 1985. Though Wajibu had had some good words said about it by some individuals from time to time in the past, this was the first time we received such an important academic and international recognition.
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