Alert! Yoweri Musveni, president of Uganda, doesn’t like books.
At least, that’s the impression he gave Kenyan journalist Don Wanyama recently, after appearing on Kenya’s NTV and rubbishing English Literature courses at African universities, calling them “redundant”.
Wanyama found this curious – especially for a politician who has an adviser on literary affairs – and wrote a rebuttal of Museveni’s views in Uganda’s The Monitor that might’ve gotten him arrested if he’d presented it in person:
Last week, I watched a documentary on unemployment aired on NTV. It explored its causes, using case studies of graduates who have 'tarmacked' the roads for ages after university. But what was disturbing was a clip in which President Museveni placed the blame on subjects students study at university. He singled out Literature in English as one of those 'redundant' subjects, wondering what one could do after studying William Shakespeare. “Shakespeare said this in this year, so what?” the sarcastic President asked.
I don’t think Mr Museveni’s choice for Literature as a subject to berate was accidental. Literature emphasises critical thinking, using works of fiction, at times reality. Most literary works draw inspiration from real life, with authors either seeking to celebrate or criticise these aspects of life. It trains learners to look beyond the surface, equipping them with investigative and analytical skills.
Photos courtesy Don Wayama @ Blogspot and Obangui @ Wordpress
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September 18th, 2009 @13:28 #
This is disturbing, esp as my brief glimpse of Ugandan literary life and culture suggested an extremely robust culture of satire. Perhaps that's the problem.
I've met the President's Advisor on Literary Affairs (there's a pic of him on my blog http://helenmoffett.book.co.za/blog/2008/12/15/a-spell-in-uganda-ii/), a charming, funny and erudite man, a patron of FEMRITE and apparently very active in literary affairs. Hmm.