Towards an African Renaissance

Towards an African Renaissance is the second of the occasional publications of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. The volume takes its title from the Convocation Lecture delivered by Professor Adeboye Babalola, a distinguished and pioneer scholar of Yoruba Studies, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), on August 10, 2000. It is only appropriate that it should be the first paper in this volume. The second paper is the NAL lecture delivered by a member of the Academy and a Professor of Philosophy at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, at the University of Ibadan, on March 24, 2000. The third paper is also a NAL lecture delivered by another member and a Professor of English from Abmadu Bello University, Zaria, at the University of Jos, on March 23, 2001. All three papers, in spite of differences in emphasis, address one central issue: how to integrate traditional and foreign cultural practices to create a richer and, paradoxically, a more authentic Nigerian culture. Steve Ogude Editor August 2002