This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
Published on November 26, 2019, by Jenerali Ulimwengu, chairman of the board of the Raia Mwema newspaper and an advocate of the High Court in Dar es Salaam.
It's a common phenomenon to come across individuals who think the world revolves around them simply because they possess a certain level of education. They often use their academic credentials as a means to belittle others, especially those who may not have the same level of education.
However, this kind of thinking is not only arrogant but also misguided. Education is not just about acquiring academic degrees; it's about becoming a better human being with culture, emotional intelligence, and psychomotor skills.
Take, for instance, the case of a musician who sings political songs against President John Magufuli's government. An honourable minister, who is also highly educated, gets irked by the musician's actions and tells him to stick to singing or start a political party. The minister's response is a classic example of 'shakara' logic, where he uses his academic credentials to belittle the musician.
But what is education if not about becoming a better human being? Education should equip us with the skills to navigate complex societal issues, to think critically, and to empathize with others. It's not just about acquiring knowledge, but also about developing our emotional and psychomotor intelligence.
As Fela Anikulapo Kuti once said in his song 'Shakara', 'Na shakara man. He no fit do notin. Na shakara logic.' This phrase perfectly captures the essence of the 'shakara' mentality, where individuals use their academic credentials to belittle others and justify their own arrogance.
But education is not just about academic degrees; it's about becoming a better human being. It's about developing our culture, emotional intelligence, and psychomotor skills. As Jenerali Ulimwengu so aptly puts it, 'Most of all, education is humanity; it's different from skilling. A dog can be taught all sorts of skills, but I have never heard of an educated dog.'
