“Reading, Writing, Researching and Documenting”
“The Engines and foundations of Knowledge at the middle of no-where”
With increasing innovations and development in science and technology specifically the discovery and use of computers, tabs, video conferencing, Skype, to mention the few, which attract and simplify learning and writing, there has been a huge leap forward in writing culture in numerous countries in the world, both developed and developing ones. Nations in the world uses the development in science and technology as a platform for knowledge generation, development and dissemination. Social networks and blogs are widely used as centers for debate, dialogue and learning.
Professors, mentors, and scholarly gurus from innumerable specializations meet with their students online in different fora arguing and debating on several topical issues. With the use of Science and technology, which stimulate thorough reading due to triangulation, the debates and discussions are based on facts and figures furthering the development of knowledge. They also allow for instant reference and cross checking of the accuracy of the statistics given.
With more than 50 years down the line since Independence Day, 1961, leave alone the impending political, economic and social challenges, the above scenario (writing culture, research and documentation) in Tanzania is very disappointing with little or no sincerity. From whatever angle one looks at Tanzania in relation to research, writing and documentation the country holds unique potentialities which are yet to be researched and documented. Paraphrasing this, the ocean of poverty we are swimming in, is a great opportunity for us to research, read, write, document and develop action based strategies for political, economic and social transformation of our nation and society at large. One may go deeper arguing that Ms. Dambisa Moyo, the author of Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa (2009) should be a Tanzanian graduate, as the title of the book by itself has genuine reflection with practical evidence from Tanzania aid experience ranging from projects to programs since 1961 to date.
The late Prof. Chinua Achebe, (1930–2013) Nigerian novelist, poet, storyteller and critic who won numerous prizes and awards both from his home country and abroad, used fictions to deliver message to the people and rulers through his various publications such as Things fall apart (1958), No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). Prof. Chinua Achebe only used history of his country, political, economic and social problems such as dictatorship, ashes of colonialism, corruption, greed for power, tribalism, embezzlement of public funds and so forth that were facing Nigeria as the basis for his writings to shape the society and the government. It was through these bases that his first novel Things Fall Apart (1958) was the most widely read book in modern African literature. Through his works and publication a lot has been learnt and experienced within and outside Nigeria.
The art of writing and documentation goes hand in hand with reading culture. These are two sides of the same coin. If people are not writing it’s obvious that they are not reading too. Inadequate availability of financial resources has been stressed to be a major hurdle behind the dwindling culture in researching and documentation in Tanzania. Of course this holds water; however the art of writing has many dimensions through which knowledge will still grow and information disseminated. It is not a crime to go for library research reading other people’s publications critique or open room for further discussions. This genre of research has been highly simplified with the development in science and technology where a lot of publications and other academic works are available online.
However within this discourse, there are other fundamental reasons for declining reading, writing, researching and documenting culture apart from financial resources which to a great extent were the motives behind this article. These include the curriculum in place which neither foster nor motivate researching, writing, reading and development of cognitive ability of students since their kindergarten level. For instance and with special emphasis, having one highly recommended reference book for a particular grade, say Geography standard for Seven (7), may negatively affect the reading culture as pupils and students may not feel obliged to find more reading materials except the one recommended book. They are prepared for final exams and everything (exam questions) about the exam will be derived from that particular reference book, why bother for other reference books.
Other reasons for declining reading and writing culture include misuse of technology accompanied with plagiarism and forged data, language barrier, limited support and guidance from both teachers , academic scholars and parents (for kids) resulting to poor writing skills, findings analysis and presentations. Social networks such as twitter, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Instagram have made people (scholars, politicians, activists) busy and crazy just for funny and not development oriented. A scholar can spend a day tweeting non sense, posting pictures on Instagram and replying messages on WhatsApp. With this trend, it’s hard for people to read, write, research and document.
It’s high time for respective ministry(s), universities, scholars and other related agencies to set up research/writing curriculum that upholds opportunities for discussion, application, and publication for the purpose of fostering the development and reinvention of writing, reading and researching amongst Tanzanians.
If immediate actions won’t be taken to address this phenomenon, it’s very certain that some years to come Tanzania will be a country without researchers, poets, storytellers, competent authors and intellectuals. Agencies, universities, academic institutions, writers, students and intellectuals must join hands for reinventing writing, researching and documenting culture and restoration of the mind.
Hugs!
Kochecha S Kochecha
