The human factor and the African intellectual

Abstract

This chapter addresses the role of the African intellectual in Human Factor (HF) development in independent Africa. It specifically focuses on the African intellectual because HF development involves the exercise of the mind in independent thinking, self-definition and self-determination. It involves mobilizing Africa’s material and mental resources for her own cultural and economic development. Africa herself, should bear the task of determining matters that belong to her destiny. This is where the intellectual as researcher, thinker and philosopher comes in. He boosts the creative potential of Africa’s HF. The challenge for Africa’s intellectuals, therefore, is to help Africa to look into her own potential and develop it. Africa is guided in this regard by the principles and ideals sourced from her own heritage and history. The challenge should he understood against the background of Africa’s conquest by Furopc, a fact well known and extensively documented. The impact of colonial history on Africa’s material resources and HF content has been severe and disastrous. Africa experienced ruthless exploitation of her wealth, her people and the repression of her peoples’ talents for a century. This historical enslavement gave birth to Africa’s desire to liberate herself.