Page 32 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 25
P. 32
Community
After viewing the principle Western capitalism, nor was it developed Western countries.
of self-interest against its appropriated by the state, as in The challenge for us in Africa,
historico-cultural background, the East. In indigenous Afrika, is to develop a new economics,
one considers this link in the profit was shared between which shall be a reflection of
African context, and argues the owners and the workers. the economic experiences of
that, although they cannot It is in this sense, therefore, the overwhelming majority of
be taken as the sole factor, that we pursue humanistic society, the African people.
people’s cultural beliefs and perspectives, which centres Our economics must begin
values are crucial for economic upon human person and around with an accurate knowledge
development. Economic growth human welfare (Walter Rodney, of the situation and needs of
and development need to be Ayitteyi, etc). the overwhelming majority of
a substantiation of a people’s Africans in rural and semi-rural
beliefs and values (The As does conventional areas, and in the townships of
Dialectics of Cultural Economy, economics, we stress human urban areas.
2014) agency and autonomy. We
believe in a greatly enriched The Effects of the Encounter
This conflicting situation human nature that takes morality Through Western capitalism
created a need, particularly seriously and that is consistent (which embodies Western
during the post-apartheid era, with human dignity. culture), African ethics and
to look at a possibility of an African economic relations
alternative economic paradigm, Socially embedded economics (which embody African culture)
that would be grounded and seeks unity in the forces of were disrupted and put almost
rooted on African ethics, values human nature. We have a strong into non-existence, because
and culture. By the way, culture conviction that economic capitalism tends to be a science
gives a people self-identity and thinking and discourse cannot of self-interest, of how to
character. It allows them to be be carried out in an ethical best accommodate individual
in harmony with their physical vacuum, and that it is this behaviour by means of markets
and spiritual environment, to explicit ethical foundation and the commodification of
form the basis for their sense which is so distinctive for human relations. Much of
of self-fulfillment and personal socially embedded economics it still reflects the particular
peace. It enhances their ability as an alternative to ordinary philosophical tradition of
to guide themselves, make their economics. British culture inaugurated
own decisions, and protect their by Hume and his followers
interests. It’s their reference What is called ‘economics’, (Vilakazi). There is no room
point to the past and their as it is taught in our learning for a logic of human values
antennae to the future. institutions (Herbert Vilakazi), and rationally founded ethics.
is simply a reflection of the Human aspirations are watered
In Afrika, profit was not economic experiences of the down to shopping behaviour
appropriated by a single European community, which and channelled into stale
individual or by corporate in itself is an extension of consumerism.
owners, as it is the case in the economic experiences of
32 | we tell the true afrikan story
