PREAMBLE
1. The 4-day conference was convened by Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) in conjunction with Pan African Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG) to provide opportunity for scholars and practitioners to explore, engage and examine the nexus among three key concepts of “spirituality”, “social capital” and “self-reliance” in Africa .
2. In all, the International Conference attracted a total of about 140 participants drawn from Nigeria , Republic of Benin , Brazil , Kenya , Niger , Jamaica , United Kingdom , United States of America , Ghana , Trinidad and Tobago and Canada .
Notably in attendance were:
• Professor Wande Abimbola, the Awise Agbaye
• Alhaji (Dr.) Lateef Adegbite, The Secretary General of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)
• His Royal Highness, The Onikoyi of Ikoyi in Ouidah
• Mrs. Obi, The Representative of the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation
• Mr. Oyemade, Representative of Head of Nigerian Chancery in Republic of Benin .
• Rev (Mrs.) Oloye Aina Olomo, from USA
3. A total of 36 papers covering such sub themes as
• Spirituality, Theoretical and Conceptual Perspectives,
• Historical and Contemporary Context,
• Spirituality, Social Capital, Self-Reliance, Gender and Development,
• Identity, Racism and Conflicts,
• African Values, Ethics and the New Order and
• Commerce, Industry, Arts, Crafts, Science and Technology were presented at the Conference.
The Conference received a well researched keynote from a world renown international Scholar of Religion, Prof. J. K. Olupona from Harvard University , USA .
OBSERVATIONS
Having conceptualized African spirituality as a religious democratization and the emphasis of praxis over dogma, Conference identified some other related capitals such as; cultural, economic, religious and symbolic capital and observes as follows:
That the failure of post colonial African states to address the challenges of development.
There is lack of effective collaboration between Africa and its diaspora.
That African spirituality is not in doubt, but that, Africans have yet to appropriate this spirituality for the purpose of human centred development largely as a result of a number of limiting factors.
There is the need for a shift of emphasis to an understanding of the patterns of interactions between the different religions.
That there is the unfortunate religious politics which has so far hindered religious networking.
That religion is not intrinsically bad, but the problem is with the activities of religious entrepreneurs.
That racism is a thing of the mind; a separatist tendency, human betrayal, that is very common in the western hemisphere.
That the emancipation of African people is impossible without a recourse to the uniqueness of African spirituality.
That leaders fail in Africa because of their disengagement from the spiritual basis of their society and corruption.
That the technological underdevelopment of Africa is a result of the little appreciation of technology as a process of deep spiritual activity.
That the quest for social harmony could be found in the rhythm of the unity of mind and body and the interaction of the hierarchy of beings.
That Africans no longer teach their languages, history and culture to their children.
That African renaissance will remain elusive till we reclaim our art and culture.
That inter-faith engagement could be used to promote global peace through constructive engagement by believers and practitioners.
That Africans both at home and in the diaspora have been battered by the twin scourge of slavery and colonization.
Flowing from these observations, the Conference recommends:
The need to broaden the concept of African spirituality beyond autochthonous or caliginous African religion to include all other religions in Africa .
Africans should start engaging African spirituality to solve African problems.
The dynamism of culture must be understood within the context of our own identity i.e. African Identity.
There should be effective communication and collaboration amongst Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.
For African spirituality to have a redemptive and transforming force, the colonial intervention must be properly historicized and placed within the context of Africa .
Africans should discontinue the use of western ontology to appreciate and explain social reality in Africa .
There must be a constructive engagement of practitioners of the faiths and scholars to propel development in Africa especially through the application of indigenous knowledge.
It is imperative for Africans to work toward the development of enduring structures that will incorporate the progressive values and cultures of the African and western worlds.
There is the need to urgently revisit our educational curricula, in order to de-colonize Africa psyche.
Africa must recover its civilization beyond Christianity and Islam.
That African languages must be compulsory acquisition for all Africans.
That development policies and strategies must recognize and appropriate African social capital for accelerated development.
The cultural policies of African countries should be revised to incorporate the essentially African realities.
There should be inclusion of integrated Religious Studies in the curricula from the Junior Secondary level.
The theme of this Conference should be revisited by the year 2009.
Finally, Conference expressed appreciation to CBAAC and PANAFSTRAG for organizing the conference and for their hospitality.
Prof. Tunde Babawale
Director/CEO
CBAAC
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