Rough: Monarchy is commonsense: Obasan

Unhereditary monarchy is common sense or how to stop worrying and integrate the monarchy into your psyche (or enjoy the monarchy) Monarchy, paradoxically, is common sense; we are accustomed to the idea of its critique as a result of the expansion of universal suffrage and the increasingly happy acceptance of limits on their power by…

Ara-oko, The African Mind and the state or space of flows

This piece aims to address and engender a shift of the idea of the farm-based citizen, in popular Yoruba parlance, Ara-oko, predominantly conceptualised as unsophisticated to one of first creators of intellectualism and introspection. A choice insult often addressed to a person perceived as unmannered is to say ‘Oluko’ – this pejorative is one example…

On Straightness

Michael B. Jordan – Picture source: http://www.Blackdoctor.org Despite the prevalence of another usage, strictly speaking, the correct antonym of straight is not gay – but camp; one realises as the elaboration of what it means to be queer or questioning deepens in our human experience, that very many of the qualities that are attributed to…

Ogunlekan: Esu Is Not the Devil: Next Steps in the Restoration of an African and Global Psychic Balance

Ogunlekan: Esu is Not the Devil: Next Steps in the Restoration of an African and Global Psychic Balance Ogunlekan: Esu Is Not the Devil: Next steps in the Restoration of an African and Global Psychic Balance A while ago, alongside many others I intervened in the ongoing conversation about the metaphysical and psychological interpretation of…

On Labour

The central purpose of this polemic is not merely to describe the social conditions of our time, but to describe them with a view to mobilising action by labour and potentially allied parties towards the two central challenges of our age – ensuring that a decent future exists for future generations, halting the destruction of…

The New & Necessary Fundamentalisms: Rough Notes on political action and negotiation for the good life, globally, in the 21st Century

The New & Necessary Fundamentalisms: Rough Notes on political action and negotiation for the good life, globally, in the 21st Century This note means to be brief, the central purpose of it is to articulate this, globally speaking in our understanding of the basis for our political life beyond economics we are at an impasse…

Why Tiffany Jenkins is wrong – and museum loot should be returned

There seems to be a slow movement towards restitution of artefacts to the societies in the world culturally ravaged by colonialism – but it is slow in the face of great resistance. Tiffany Jenkin’s writing in London’s Evening Standard, argues that the global ambitions of European museums means they are the best, and indeed only…

Verbal Ruffs: On Transition

How the Obamas expanded the language of American presidency – with dance

We’re all familiar with the language of American presidential campaigns, the symbolic rituals every candidate must make – kissing babies, high fives with joe average, and sympathetic listening to his wife. Even more familiar are we with the stump speech, and the 100 megawatt smile that communicate, pick me, I’m the best one to lead.…