[The African Monetarist]

Thank you for the very indepth article on African music, from a historical standpoint.

 

It confronts deep ethical questions about artistic representation, cultural ownership, and the moral responsibilities of creators. At its core is a question central to aesthetics and postcolonial ethics: Can art divorced from context be ethically neutral?!

 

The appropriation of African musical ideas — especially by figures like Saint-Saëns or Cage — raises issues of epistemic injustice, a concept articulated by philosophers like Sylvia Wynter, bell hooks, Frantz Fanon, et-al. Musical exoticism often ignored the knowledge systems, historical specificity, and symbolic weight of the traditions they borrowed from, reducing them to ornamental features in a Western sonic vocabulary. The result is a form of aesthetic erasure, where the identity of the original culture is both invoked and silenced.

 

Interestingly it manifests in forms in which cultures seen as “other” are often objectified or instrumentalized to develop the identity of the dominant one. The musical Other becomes a tool in the self-fashioning of Eurocentrism.

 

 

[The African Monetarist]

 

@ADA.

 

Absolutely! Communities that have strong organizing traditions, benefit from focused economic development that become tool for trust-building, capacity development and bridging inequality gap.

 

With intentional equity planning, tailored investment, and peer-to-peer learning between communities, community wealth-building can be a scalable and inclusive model for sustainable change—even in areas facing complex social challenges.

 

[The African Monetarist]

@JCole; Absolutely!

 

The AATC in Barbados is a powerful step toward reversing centuries of exploitative trade patterns by creating a South-South economic corridor. It repositions African and Caribbean nations as proactive architects of global trade, rather than reactive participants in a Western-dominated system. This is economic diplomacy rooted in shared identity and mutual benefit.

 

It is agreeably a groundbreaking step toward economic decolonization.

 

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[The African Monetarist]

Hounsou’s critique of Hollywood’s “conceptual idea of diversity” is particularly poignant, and hould inspire both introspection and action within Hollywood.

 

Agreeably Hollywood’s ‘performative diversity’ often amount to tokenism rather than meaningful inclusion. True diversity requires addressing the structures that exclude and marginalize; whether through unequal pay, limited opportunities, or biased recognition systems.

This is indeed a ‘call to action’ for industry leaders to take concrete steps to dismantle systemic barriers by:

 

1. Ensuring Pay Equity: Implementing transparent pay scales that account for an actor’s contributions rather than their perceived market value.
2. Reforming Award Practices: Establishing fair and inclusive nomination processes that recognize talent across all racial and cultural backgrounds.
3. Empowering Marginalized Voices: Promoting African and other underrepresented creators in key decision-making roles to shift the narrative and broaden representation.

For audiences, supporting diverse content and advocating for equity within entertainment is equally important.

 

By amplifying stories like Hounsou’s, we hold Hollywood accountable and push it toward becoming the inclusive, equitable industry it aspires to be.

 

Hounsou’s reflections remind us that change is possible but demands vigilance and commitment from all stakeholders. Only then can Hollywood fulfill its promise of being a space where all voices are celebrated and respected.

 

[The African Monetarist]

@ADA This situation shines a light on the work still needed to create equitable workplaces but also underscores the value of initiatives like AFROTECH. By empowering Black professionals, these events are paving the way for a more inclusive future.

 

It’s heartening to see the growing recognition of such spaces as catalysts for change, and it’s a reminder that real progress often begins with bold, collective actions like this. Organizations willing to embrace and support these efforts will ultimately reap the rewards of a more engaged, diverse workforce.

[The African Monetarist]

This is arguably the most comprehensive timeline summary I’ve encountered, detailing events leading up to, and following the Doctrine of Discovery.

 

It offers an in-depth and accurate depiction of historical developments, with bibliographic references and notes, which is very helpful for further scholarly, independent research. 

 

Incorporating references significantly enhances its academic rigor; with valuable terms and references to guide further inquiry.

 

Brilliantly done!

[The African Monetarist]

The article leans heavily into the symbolic importance of a Black female president.

 

A deeper dive into how the policies championed by a Black female politicians, such as equitable healthcare, criminal justice reform, or economic support for disadvantaged communities, aligning with a broader agenda for equality would have provided practical outcomes for U.S communities.

 

A symbolic victory to vote the first Black female president has indeed been missed.

 

[Onkọwe]

Awọn ifiweranṣẹ