Question

What are the four processes for using cultural and intellectual tradition that Wole Soyinka features in Part II of "Of Africa"? What is the specific tradition that he offers as a rich source for retrieval, guidance, exchange, and arbitration for Africans and others?

Answer 1

Wole Soyinka outlines retrieval, guidance, exchange, and arbitration as processes for using cultural and intellectual tradition in Part II of 'Of Africa', with the sage tradition highlighted as a key source for these processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Part II of Of Africa, Wole Soyinka discusses the four processes for using cultural and intellectual tradition which include retrieval, guidance, exchange, and arbitration. The specific tradition he offers as a rich source for these processes is the sage tradition. This tradition, explored by Henry Odera Oruka, involves complex philosophical ideas developed by folk sages in African tribal history.

These sages not only carried the wisdom of their tradition but also maintained a critical perspective, seeking rational justifications for cultural beliefs. This tradition suggests that Africa has a unique contribution to philosophical discourse and these sages' rational inquiries into the nature of things serve as insightful resources for African societies and beyond. An example provided is how Robertson's students engage with Igbo art through both Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and the effects of colonization on the arts, which allows for a reflective exchange and deeper understanding of cultural identity.