Thursday, January 10, 2008

travails of a struggling researcher

today am attempting to edit a survey targeting business students who are interested in integrating faith in their work. i think i have a pretty good draft, but it takes a lot for me to be satisfied with my work.

I am also drafting my proposal for culture and leadership research in Africa, putting in a few more paragraphs about research design. i hope to complete this by tomorrow. i have to complete it by tomorrow if am going to be able to move on with other things.

the third project i am working on today is workplace chaplaincy, writing a rationale article that will also include a research proposal. yeah, am attempting to get a lot done in a short time.

on a non academic note, i heard about some of the reality back home (Kenya) and am just praying for change, that the two heads at the top would stop looking at each other and start looking at what they are doing to the country, tearing folk apart who have lived together peacefully for generations. Even when they do reach a political compromise (if they do), there is still a tremendous amount of work that has to go into peace and reconciliation, because the spiritual and emotional toll the chaos has taken on kenyans is tremendous. Especially among the poor in Kenya who are the most affected - i.e. Kibera, Mathare and other slums in Nairobi. God save Kenya!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the African philosophy best described in the words of some of Africa's thought leaders thus:

I am because we are, and because we are, I am - John S. Mbiti

I am because I belong - Desmond Tutu

Ubuntu is the essence of 'being human' in African traditional thought, it dictates how individuals should relate one to another, guided by values such as solidarity, compassion, survival (of the group/collective), dignity, responsiveness and respect. Under ubuntu, individual identity must not trump collective identity.

My questions are:

  • Ubuntu sounds so great (yes I am familiar with some of its manifestations from my village upbringing and in observation of collectives of women in Kenya), but, does it have a downside? some scholars argue that subsuming individual identity under collective identity is problematic. I would want to find out exactly how so by finding out from those who do experience its impact on their existence daily.
  • and if one is to view ubuntu as essentially positive, why is it not being practiced in much of SSA?

the trails of a struggling researcher

Have you ever sat in front of your computer, put your fingers on the keys ready to type away, and nothing came through? Or read so many books, articles and still not been able to formulate a sensible, researchable question? That is my current dilemma as I attempt to construct several proposals for various projects, all due in the next few days. And in the midst of attempting to be productive is the fear and worry associated with watching my country Kenya go to the dogs in the space of a few days, over the inflated egos of the country's political leaders.