Date: 03/05/2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Launch of The State of Africa 2003 AISA publication
Keynote address by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the launch of the AISA publication of The State of Africa 2003 - 2004
Director of Ceremonies
CEO of AISA, Dr Eddy Maloka
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
The launch this work titled, The State of Africa 2003 - 2004, produced by the Africa Institute of South Africa is indeed a historic moment. This volume constitutes a valuable addition to the pool of knowledge about Africa by Africans. Our continent dearly needs analytical and critical reviews such as the ones contained in the publication we are launching today.
As we celebrate the coming to fruition of this contribution, it is important to take into account the broader social and historical context of the state of the continent which, is depicted in this publication. As we ponder the past that shaped Africa’s current predicament, and the bright future to which we all aspire and work for, an observation made by Albert Einstein that, “a problem cannot be solved at the level of consciousness at which it was created” comes to mind. Before I propose the relevance of this statement to our situation in Africa, let us take a moment to reflect together on the current state of the continent.
On a happy and positive occasion such as this, I’m not going to burden your hearts and minds with the gloomy statistics about our continent. The grim numbers are well documented in the successive United Nations Development Programme Human Development Reports, the World Bank and other institutions that monitor development trends of nations and regions. The grinding poverty that mercilessly tightens its grip around the continent, the blight of HIV and AIDS and other diseases, and the failure of the continent to feed itself, are some of the many problems that define our beloved land. An indelible picture of Africa that is etched in the minds of many people who reside outside our beautiful continent is that of a sickly, skinny, fly-infested child with protruding ribs on the brink of death in a refugee camp somewhere. In the consciousness of the world, Africa is synonymous with brutal dictatorships, military coups, stoned child soldiers, warlords, blood diamonds, corrupt officials, rigged elections, inefficient governments, street children, filth, grime, drought, famine, floods and pestilence.
While the gravity of our problems cannot and should not be underestimated, the picture that is often painted is usually one-sided, laced with a tinge of prejudice and old stereotypes. Be that as it may, today’s story of Africa cannot overlook the major accomplishments that some of our countries individually and collectively have achieved. This report amply takes these positive developments into account while providing a sober analysis of our political, social and economic state of health.
The initiatives that are being championed by the President of South Africa have gone a long way towards instilling a new optimism on the continent. Our efforts at taking responsibility for our own development, even though their fruits are yet to be realised, have placed the continent on a different trajectory. The discourse has shifted from that of begging-bowl-dependence to that of growth, development, good governance, democratic principles and civil liberties. On this path, the social and economic recovery of the continent is only a matter time.
The development of the continent will however need to be knowledge-driven. This is the dictate of the new global economic order. We have made this point to drive home the critical role of scientific knowledge and technological innovation in developing our economies. However, the judicious application of these technological changes, and the achievement of broad social transformation shall be predicated on sound social research and critical analysis. This demands that Africans redouble their efforts towards understanding themselves. It is ironic that most research about Africa is done by non-Africans, and sits on library shelves across the great seas and oceans. It is about time we Africans reclaim in earnest our right to tell our own story. Admittedly, it is not going to be an easy task for Africans to break the age-old shackles of rape and oppression imposed by imperial and colonial rule. Nonetheless, we have no choice but to reclaim our place in the sun as a first step towards resolving the problems that now beset us, which were in the first place not of our own creation.
It is in this context that institutions such as the Africa Institute of South Africa are critical. The product that we are launching today would go a long way toward plugging the vast gap that exists in our self-knowledge. We need to develop strong institutional capacity for human sciences research in the continent. This capacity is crucial in buttressing New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and other development initiatives.
It is our belief that our level of understanding and consciousness of ourselves as Africans, our collective history, cultures, needs and destiny should supersede that which attended the creation of our problems. This high level of self-knowledge and consciousness is what we need in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past in our attempt to solve current problems, and improve our lives as Africans.
It is, therefore, fitting to salute the efforts of the Africa Institute of South Africa and all the individuals who contributed in the production of this inaugural issue of The State of Africa report. I have no that everyone present here this morning is eagerly looking forward to future volumes, which will further clarify our history and traditions.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
3 May 2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Launch of The State of Africa 2003 AISA publication
Keynote address by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the launch of the AISA publication of The State of Africa 2003 - 2004
Director of Ceremonies
CEO of AISA, Dr Eddy Maloka
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
The launch this work titled, The State of Africa 2003 - 2004, produced by the Africa Institute of South Africa is indeed a historic moment. This volume constitutes a valuable addition to the pool of knowledge about Africa by Africans. Our continent dearly needs analytical and critical reviews such as the ones contained in the publication we are launching today.
As we celebrate the coming to fruition of this contribution, it is important to take into account the broader social and historical context of the state of the continent which, is depicted in this publication. As we ponder the past that shaped Africa’s current predicament, and the bright future to which we all aspire and work for, an observation made by Albert Einstein that, “a problem cannot be solved at the level of consciousness at which it was created” comes to mind. Before I propose the relevance of this statement to our situation in Africa, let us take a moment to reflect together on the current state of the continent.
On a happy and positive occasion such as this, I’m not going to burden your hearts and minds with the gloomy statistics about our continent. The grim numbers are well documented in the successive United Nations Development Programme Human Development Reports, the World Bank and other institutions that monitor development trends of nations and regions. The grinding poverty that mercilessly tightens its grip around the continent, the blight of HIV and AIDS and other diseases, and the failure of the continent to feed itself, are some of the many problems that define our beloved land. An indelible picture of Africa that is etched in the minds of many people who reside outside our beautiful continent is that of a sickly, skinny, fly-infested child with protruding ribs on the brink of death in a refugee camp somewhere. In the consciousness of the world, Africa is synonymous with brutal dictatorships, military coups, stoned child soldiers, warlords, blood diamonds, corrupt officials, rigged elections, inefficient governments, street children, filth, grime, drought, famine, floods and pestilence.
While the gravity of our problems cannot and should not be underestimated, the picture that is often painted is usually one-sided, laced with a tinge of prejudice and old stereotypes. Be that as it may, today’s story of Africa cannot overlook the major accomplishments that some of our countries individually and collectively have achieved. This report amply takes these positive developments into account while providing a sober analysis of our political, social and economic state of health.
The initiatives that are being championed by the President of South Africa have gone a long way towards instilling a new optimism on the continent. Our efforts at taking responsibility for our own development, even though their fruits are yet to be realised, have placed the continent on a different trajectory. The discourse has shifted from that of begging-bowl-dependence to that of growth, development, good governance, democratic principles and civil liberties. On this path, the social and economic recovery of the continent is only a matter time.
The development of the continent will however need to be knowledge-driven. This is the dictate of the new global economic order. We have made this point to drive home the critical role of scientific knowledge and technological innovation in developing our economies. However, the judicious application of these technological changes, and the achievement of broad social transformation shall be predicated on sound social research and critical analysis. This demands that Africans redouble their efforts towards understanding themselves. It is ironic that most research about Africa is done by non-Africans, and sits on library shelves across the great seas and oceans. It is about time we Africans reclaim in earnest our right to tell our own story. Admittedly, it is not going to be an easy task for Africans to break the age-old shackles of rape and oppression imposed by imperial and colonial rule. Nonetheless, we have no choice but to reclaim our place in the sun as a first step towards resolving the problems that now beset us, which were in the first place not of our own creation.
It is in this context that institutions such as the Africa Institute of South Africa are critical. The product that we are launching today would go a long way toward plugging the vast gap that exists in our self-knowledge. We need to develop strong institutional capacity for human sciences research in the continent. This capacity is crucial in buttressing New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and other development initiatives.
It is our belief that our level of understanding and consciousness of ourselves as Africans, our collective history, cultures, needs and destiny should supersede that which attended the creation of our problems. This high level of self-knowledge and consciousness is what we need in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past in our attempt to solve current problems, and improve our lives as Africans.
It is, therefore, fitting to salute the efforts of the Africa Institute of South Africa and all the individuals who contributed in the production of this inaugural issue of The State of Africa report. I have no that everyone present here this morning is eagerly looking forward to future volumes, which will further clarify our history and traditions.
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
3 May 2005
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