The Gates-Mazrui Clash: Why Mazrui May Have a Case

Abstract

The exchange between the two great scholars has been hugely absorbing. While the US PBS TV series was called "Wonders of the African World," here in the UK the BBC version was entitled "Into Africa" and shown around August 1999. Most people of colour are aware that today's dominant discourse is largely western, the content and form being defined by their scholars and media pundits. We are no more than passive spectators or at most bit players. It was therefore exhilarating to view a series both scripted and narrated by a reputed black scholar, providing fresh insights into African history whereas in most disciplines we have to make do with western representations.