I have often asked myself the same question in another form: Why are Africans in general and Nigerians in particular afraid of science fiction?
I must begin by categorically stating that I’m neither a scientist nor a science student for that matter. Oh, I confess I’ve always been fascinated with ants, earthworms and documentaries on wildlife since I was a boy. And that I’ve always been fascinated with “Dexter’s Labouratory” (of Cartoon Network) and “Made in Japan” (a series about technological innovations by the Japanese). But even these fascinations could not stop me from fleeing from Chemistry’s “Balancing the Chemical Equation” or the scary calculations in Physics into the arms of arts (Government and Literature) in my senior secondary school days. Ha ha! Till today, I do not regret that choice. Many must now be wondering, “Why then are you writing this? What is your point?”
Okay, I’ll tell you. It is because I’ve recently fallen in love with science and indeed technology’s promising future in Africa. I’ve discovered the enormous power of science fiction as an art. I’ve suddenly realised that science fiction makes a writer an artist, scientist and prophet all in one. Isn’t that amazing? I’ve also realised that most African readers do not connect with the spaceships and inter-planetary wars of Western science fiction but have very few home-grown alternatives. That is why I am so disgusted with the continued fixation of our writers on romance, adventure, folk tales amongst other common genres of fiction while neglecting science fiction. I’m even more disgusted when a fellow African tells me that it’s so because we do not have science in our genetic make-up.
At such statements, I wonder if such a person is ignorant of the genesis of modern science from ancient Black Egypt. I wonder why such a person has not bothered to read Walter Rodney’s “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” to understand why he/she could even harbour such an opinion at all. That is why I am so worried that Africans are not being inspired towards home-grown technological development. That is why I fear that Africa is not ready for the future. Why do I think so?
Well, in the SF Book of Lists, Tom Shippey notes that “Science fiction is hard to define because it is the literature of change and it changes while you are trying to define it.” (I love his definition.) Please underline literature of change. Earlier on, over a century ago, the New York Herald of Sept 1835 stated that Mr R.A. Locke, one of the very first writers of science fiction “…looks forward into futurity, and adapts his characters to the light of science.” Underline futurity here.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary explains science fiction as “a type of book, film/movie, etc that is based on imagined scientific discoveries of the future, and often deals with space travel and life on other planets.” Underline future. While the Encyclopaedia Britannica further defines it as “a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting.” Underline futuristic. What do you notice in all these definitions? Change, futurity, future and futuristic, isn’t it? Now you must agree with me that if Africans are scared of science fiction then it ultimately means that they are afraid of change, afraid of the future. Isn’t that a fearful observation in this 21st century?
Great sons and daughters of Africa, we as writers must recognise that there is enormous power in our pens. Was it not through the pen that our nationalists were able to awaken the African consciousness and eventually achieve independence from our colonializers? Can’t we remember how “Things Fall Apart” changed the perception of the world towards Africa only decades ago? Yet, we need not keep walking the wide, smooth and over-beaten footpaths of Achebe, Soyinka or even Adichie. Africa needs a new vision, a new awakening and a new direction. The time has come for us to guide our generation of African readers into the 22nd century of a peaceful ultra-developed Africa. An Africa free from today’s colonially-drawn boundaries of artificial states. An Africa where you are free to be a South Sudanese, a Biafran, an Oduduwan, an Arewan or whatever else you choose to be. An Africa contributing meaningfully and powerfully to the spiritual and physical advancement of humanity.
The time has come, my dear brothers and sisters, for us to march through the rough, narrow and almost-virgin routes of a home-grown science fiction. To discover and redefine a science fiction of Africa, for Africans and by Africans so that our people may have no fear. Welcome to the future!!!
NGENE CHIBUEZE JOHN
(THE LIGHT OF AFRICA!!)
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King kObOkO @koboko
I AM THE LIGHT OF AFRICA!! And a byte of Biafra!
Pls visit www.kingkoboko.wordpress.com for more info. *winks*
Or u could download my ROSE-COLOURED GLASS at www.lulu.com/spotlight/kobokoGo to King kObOkO's profile, and read more of his/her posts.
Words from the Afrocentric-writer. Nice article, good points.
Dear friends, pls join me on http://WWW.BIAFRAFICTION.WEBS.COM to write and comment on all kinds of African futuristic fictions. I’m even offering a token (N200 recharge card) for any work you submit there. Thanks for your anticipated e-vist and welcome to the future once again!!! *winks*
Hahahaha. U r always screaming in Ur articles. Don’t be ‘disgusted’ by people’s ‘fixation’ on other things. U can’t blame Africans for not taking to SF like U have. I’ve read a few of these books in my day, by people like Isaac Asimov, one of the greats of SF. U already know my thoughts on this issue as per the group forum U created. U need to look at the technological disparity between Africa and the Western and Eastern parts of the world. I mean, we are still obsessed with the Blackberry, meanwhile people in other continents are doing wonderful things with Technology. I used to hear this saying as a kid: “The White man gave us the TV so that we could watch while they worked.” Don’t blame the people. Blame the society they find themselves in. Our current society doesn’t understand the language of SF; it barely understands Science! So when U start talking about inter-galactic wars n stuff like that, it sounds too far-fetched for them, and they can’t imagine it; it’ll look like a textbook to them. How do U expect them to visualize these fictional worlds, when some of them have not even seen an ipad 2?
U get my drift…
Nice article.
Thank you for reprimanding him so mildly. I was about to go ‘Osama’ on his Afrocentric behind.
Thanks.
Nothing do U Oga.
you cant write about what you dont have any idea of.
Exactly.
Raymond, you are always laughing too. He he he…
9ice one @ Raymond
How do U expect them to visualize these fictional worlds, when some of them have not even seen an ipad 2?….LOL
I like this article. I like the articulate way you laid down your argument. I see your passion for Africa…but there are some things you need to understand. You can’t be unduly agressive with people just because you don’t agree with them. Respect them for their views…and demand respect for yours.
You’re a very lucid and articulate writer. I would like for you to lighten up/soften a little bit…but don’t change.
Nice one.
definitely no need to change, maybe soften up a bit
I can understand where you’re coming from ‘ king koboko’ but you must realize that everyone has a choice and a right about what to write. Therefore, you don’t have to try and force your views about your preferred genre of literature down our throats.
On the other hand, I love science because I studied it and even practise it but you must take into cognisance what Raymond said about our environment.
I think you should be addressing the Government’s attitude towards science. How equipped are our school laboratories? What investments have Government made in terms of research in our higher institututions? The federal ministry of science and technology, how well funded is it? What percentage of the federal budget is alloated to it?
These are the fundamentals that should be taken care of first because they are what will bring the consciousness of science and by extension, SF to our upcoming generation.
Got my drift?
What a summary! “Igwe” U deserve an ‘Analysis Award; for this
I was about airing a similar view but behold! ‘U have poured out my mind”
Kudos..’Igweeeeeee”
Thanks for the compliment!
you have made some valid points and you wrote out your arguments well
i like your Afro-centrism but i really don’t want to blame our writers for not writing science fiction. when someone cannot write a simple chemistry equation, how will same write a novel with science fiction as a theme especially considering that science fiction is usually futuristic?
I like your perspective. I can write science fiction…but I believe that you should at least have some idea of what you’re writing about…i was a science student but never really liked Chemistry. So my ‘science fiction’ might just be some futuristic stuff…not really science..
@Seun @xikay @igwe and @raymond
I don’t understand why you guys seem to be harping on the science-fiction thingy like that was what the article was about, that one na the periwinkle (hope say I spell am well) for inside the ogbono……. let us address the main issue in the article, abi una nor dey see the meat for inside the ogbono soup?
I think you guys are missing the point of this article. I believe he is talking about the future, science and it’s place in helping Nigeria / Africa get to that “future”, about change and our seeming inability as africans / nigerians to change with times.
He just happened to couch his arguements in Science Fiction because he wants to koboko our collective behinds as writers, Nigerian / African writers so we can use the influence and power our works have on the general populace to inspire them with the posibilities the future holds for us africans if we harness science properly. It is not only goverment that has power to effect change for the future….. what of the power of the pen that you all wield? Oga Koboko is asking us why are we not using it?
That’s my take on his article. Cheers.
Dear sir…you’re missing the point of our by-the-side tete-a-tete. And how can you say his article is not about science fiction?
It is about the future; yes but he launched his argument off the sci-fi platform. He said clearly that the fixation of writers on other genres disgust him. Or did you miss that part?
We’re responding to what we read. We would not see it in there if he did not put it in there.
…..true that seun but like I said…. that is the periwinkle in the ogbono soup. Wetin do the big goat meat wen dey swim for inside koboko article? I am just pointing out that it seems to be ignored which is funny to me being that was the main crux of the article…. not the sci-fi or his disgust with other writer’s fixation.
I don’t know much but I did feel that his reminding us of the power of the pen to influence and inspire people, in this context african and the use of science, would elicit more discourse than ….anyways…. cheers.
My man…I feel you. Its just that..to each his own. I cannot encourage another writer to talk about science fiction if it does not come to him naturally. So let him be him…and allow other people be themselves. Shikena.
‘I have often asked myself the same question in another form: Why are Africans in general and Nigerians in particular afraid of science fiction?’
@Ld, the sentence above is what he used to kick-off the argument. Compare that with the title. Again, this is not the first time he is putting this up for discussion. He actually posted this article after creating a group called ‘Science Fiction’. We’d kind of posted some things on the article.
In my own opinion, the writer himself even missed the ‘Goat Meat’ U r reffering to. He really was writing about Science Fiction. He wasn’t really reffering to the future as we hope to see it; he was merely questioning Writers’ inability to delve into the futuristic worlds of SF.
U took another view, which is ok. That’s what we are here for. But he prompted the discussion on SF, so we talked about that.
that is just the plain truth
Ld Otakpor, thank you dear sir for reading the spirit of my words. Please join me in awakening African readers
king koboko,you have done well to voice out this.if other africans fear the future,i stand gidigbam for ground waiting for what it will be.
As for SF,am coming with a little story sooner than later.my pen is working.
If he is not forcing Biafra on us, he would be forcing science fiction. Science fiction is not interesting to Africans. You only trying to discourage the african reader from reading anything at all.
Like I told u before, u r on ur own in this star wars-UFO- Robotic- thingy.
Hahahahaha!!! Well, he is an opinionated person….but he always seems to be forceful in feeding us his thoughts at times…Soften Ur tone, koboko.
i think he is just as opinionated as uncle @kaycee
Oga Koboko…. thanks for this piece.
I cannot say more…. some of the comments on your piece even buttress the silent points you left in-between lines. As writers, we are also suppose to try and drive/fire up the imaginations of our fellow country men. As the world stands now, the mastery of 21st Century Science and Technology will to a very large extent lift third world countries like us out of this muck we are in.
As much as some would like that you should direct this at the government and it’s agencies, it is time some koboko is brought to bear on the collective behinds of another sector of the public who have influence and power…. Nigerian writers.
I also noticed something funny about the readers comments on your write – up. The absence of any commentary on the real issue in your write -up ; “The Future” is quite striking. Instead it is the things you used to dress up the write-up that engenders peoples interest and comments. Oga Koboko you see wetin dey happen soo… even this generation seems distracted by the dressing on the cake…e go ova us for this naija when we dey so.
Truth be told and without any apologies, WE africans are mentally lazy. I am not oblivious of the fact that a few actually think out of the box and do great things but generally, our culture and traditions are programmed to make us mentally lazy. How else would you explain killling of twins in the name of warding off evil from the land? Or sacrificing to some gods at the event of a disease outbreak?
Sad thing is even till now, it happens. A woman ‘gives birth’ to seven children in a year and the first thing we think of is to arrest her cos its ‘impossible’? Or some unnatural event happens and rather than study the cause and effect and see how we can harness it to our good, we say its the devil or God depending on whether it’s positive or negative.
We do not need to write SF the way its written by the Asimovs, etc. We have our own science. We just fail to emperically analyse it. We were treating malaria before Oyibo man gave us ‘maladrin’. We were treating headaches before Oyibo man brought aspirin. We built pyramids before Oyibo man thought of building one story building. But what did we do with this knowledge? NOTHING! We still eat eba with our hands after centuries, the same way our fore fathers did. Why haven’t we thought of a way of using a synthetic material that fits the hand like a glove making it possible to eat hot eba without feeling the heat on our hands? We still climb palm trees the same way our fore fathers do without thinking of a way of improving our methods?
Africans were the first to fly (our witches were flying before the Wright brothers thought of planes), our fore fathers were watching ‘television’ (viewing events happening thousands of miles away from a calabash) before Oyibo man taught of it. And I dare say, one day, man will break the time and space barrier and travel time. You know how I know? Because our fore fathers travelled through space and time. Ask the Sangos how they did it. Unfortunately, we have refused to develop these ideas and remained static – mental laziness.
I think it was Napoleon Hill who said ‘Whatever the heart of a man can conceive and believe, he can achieve’. Africans have refused to move from the conceiving part to the achieving part. We refuse to believe we can do it. We are waiting for some gods to come help us – Mental laziness.
So if we cannot do the above, how can we even write it?
LOOOOL @Witches!!!!!
please write and we will follow suit. too much talk
Thank you Ayo. I can’t wait to read your African sci-fi. Please join me bro *kneelin*
@kaycee,dis guy go flog you o
King Koboko, you have a nice article here and most of the comments are in line but as raymond so rightly pointed out, you cant write on a topic that you dont know much about. I may be accused of being afrocentric as you are but we have not been well equipped to deal with SF that well back home.
Also, dont get disgusted cos some folks write on other subject matters than SF, different topics interest different folks and that way, we create a balance. Love and other topics you mentioned exist in life so they are written about.
Just my two cents:)
Chetachi, it’s not that I don’t want us to write those other subject matters. It’s just that we African writers have the power to project our own visions of a future Africa to our people and I’m angry that we’re not using that power. Then again, our own science fiction doesn’t have to be like that of the West. In fact, I would even prefer to call our’s FUTURE FICTION (if that’ll make it sound less scary or more appealing.) *winks*
Oops! @ Raymond, I am sorry i missed writing the first letter of your name in tall man lettering.
Ndoo.