From Lerner to Adesina: literacy, technology and development in Africa

At first glance, Daniel Lerner and Jimi Adesina would
seem to be
implacably opposed:Lerner's championing of modernity
in the
Middle East during the 1950s seems at odds with
Adesina's apparent rejection
of technology for technology's sake in Africa some
fifty years later.
However, a closer reading of both authors reveals a
shared belief in
the transformative power of education. Both men are
united in their
understanding that education and literacy must
accompany technical
developments on the march to progress. For Lerner, 'the
modernising man' has to make sense of the media to
which he (or
she) is exposed. Furthermore, Adesina argues that
'endogeneity' and
sustainability rooted in African intellectual
activity are essential
elements in any technological development. Otherwise,
what will be
adopted are, in his words, "Western patterns of
consumption not
Afrocentric trends of development."

From "The Passing of Traditional Society" to the
"fatal distractions"
of today's information technology, authentic
education still
empowers individuals and societies to distinguish
between the
vacuous and the valuable.

Autorentext

Linda Mitchell previously worked as a journalist and reportermainly for the BBC for more than twenty years before moving into academia. Her interestsare in conflictresolution and peacebuilding. She is presently researching therole of traditional and alternative media in reconstruction and reconciliation inpostconflict African societies.

Klappentext

At first glance, Daniel Lerner and Jimi Adesina wouldseem to be implacably opposed:Lerner's championing of modernityin the Middle East during the 1950s seems at odds withAdesina's apparent rejection of technology for technology's sake in Africa somefifty years later. However, a closer reading of both authors reveals ashared belief in the transformative power of education. Both men areunited in their understanding that education and literacy mustaccompany technical developments on the march to progress. For Lerner, 'the modernising man' has to make sense of the media towhich he (or she) is exposed. Furthermore, Adesina argues that'endogeneity' and sustainability rooted in African intellectualactivity are essential elements in any technological development. Otherwise,what will be adopted are, in his words, "Western patterns ofconsumption not Afrocentric trends of development."From "The Passing of Traditional Society" to the"fatal distractions" of today's information technology, authenticeducation still empowers individuals and societies to distinguishbetween the vacuous and the valuable.