Date: Tue, 7 Feb 95 07:57 GMT+200
From: Isak Cornelius, University of Stellenbosch
ic@MATIES.SUN.AC.ZA
Having studied Bernal's volumes myself and having followed the
discussion on the internet, I would like to add some remarks to the
discussion from South Africa. Up to now I have not seen any response
from the African continent itself. [How many ANE-listserver/internet
members are there on the African continent?]
As far as the "African continuities" are concerned, I may cite an
example from my own experiences. When I once spoke (on invitation) at
a Black South African University (I am from a White University -
both the result of 350 years of segregation!) on the Egyptian and
Nubian cultures, the response was overwhelming - scores of students
wanted a copy of my paper and a bibliography for further study (esp.
on the Nubians). I mentioned Bernal in my introduction, but it was
interesting to me that none of the Black scholars present seemed to
know his books. They all knew Asante and esp. Ante Diop. [I wonder if
this is the case in other parts of Africa or the world and why?].
Bernal has not gone unnoticed in South Africa. I mention it in my
classes (esp. vol. I and criticizes vol. II quite severely). Some
classicists in this country have dealt with Bernal and at my
University we once had an interesting Classics/Ancient Near Eastern
Studies debate on Bernal.
In the New South Africa (the last of the colonies to be
democratized) everyone is trying his best to move away from
euro-centrism (which was the base of the whole Apartheid ideology).
Perhaps Bernal vol. I can help, keeping in mind that the political
purpose of Black Athena is " to lessen European cultural arrogance"
(Bernal 1987, 73).
The history which had been taught in for the last 300 years of
colonial rule and 50 years of Apartheid (which is nothing else than
the South African version of colonialism) largely ignored the African
past (e.g. Zulu culture), overemphasizing the achievements of White
settlers. The historical curriculum is presently been re-written and
the role of Black South Africans are included. Egypt also plays an
important part.
The point I would like to make is that the discussion should not be
limited to the "Europeans", but perhaps the Africans should also be
given the change to state their case in a world where the North still
dominates!
Best wishes from the Cape of Good Hope.