Kenyan scholars preaching tribalism have a lot to learn from Prof Mazrui

The death of Prof Ali Mazrui is a big blow to Kenya and the world. He was a rare breed, and very few scholars could play in his league; in fact, Prof Mazrui was many things weaved into one person.

The man was not only a leading intellectual, but a human rights icon, an accomplished author, a polished political analyst and a hands-on academician par excellence.

While many of his peers were pursuing narrow ethnic and sectarian interests, the late professor towered above such pettiness. He defined national and global intellectualism by standing up for the rights of the disadvantaged wherever they were on the globe.

DESPOTIC REGIMES

At a time when many professionals feared to challenge despotic regimes, the professor took on the Kanu administration head-on. This saw the government deny him a teaching job at the University of Nairobi. Kenya’s reform process also benefited from his invaluable contribution.

Prof Mazrui disabused the long held notion that Islam is a violent religion. Even as Western countries waged a sustained propaganda war against Islam, the professor would hear none of it. He considered the hostility directed at Muslims, a clash of civilisation between the Western and Muslim worlds.

In academia, the don contributed immensely to the body of knowledge through his scholarly works. Our national discourse was enriched by the professor’s insightful and informative works. When his contemporaries were busy advancing shallow ethnic causes, Mazrui pursued a global perspective.

TRIBAL STOCKS

It is sad that in this age, our country can still be awash with tribal-cum-sycophantic scholars who polarise the nation and are in fact, the biggest threat to our nationhood.

Why have the highly educated sons and daughters of our land sunk so low in matters of national discourse? Every time one reads a piece of writing one can automatically tell the author’s ethnic background.

The number and quality of scholarly works by Prof Mazrui is unmatched by his contemporaries in Africa. He never tired of penning his opinion on topical issues affecting the African continent and its people.

From media articles to books and journals, Prof Mazrui raised the bar in intellectual writing, always placing issues in proper context. Africa is all the poorer without its giant defender.

Kenyans can do the spirit of Prof Mazrui justice by upholding and implementing the Constitution to the letter and spirit. Placating him won’t do, as he disliked hypocrisy.

May his spirit inspire a new crop of Pan Africanist scholars. Fare thee well great defender of human rights and giant academician.

BENARD AMAYA, Nairobi