THE AFRICAN SAGE

In recent times, the University of Nairobi , Kenya's premier institution of higher learning, has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Internal wrangles, leadership crises, and chronic underfunding have spotlighted the structural fragility of not only this institution but also many public universities across the country. At the heart of these challenges is a profound philosophical and spiritual drift , an erosion of the original purpose and ideals that once defined the university. To understand the crisis, we must revisit the foundations of African institutions of higher learning. The problem in Africa is not simply one of poor governance or inadequate resources. It is more foundational: we inherited the form of colonial institutions without understanding the philosophical underpinnings that animated them. Our engagement with academia became one of mimicry rather than meaning. Many aspired not to the ideals of scholarly pursuit, but to the privilege and prestige once...

When people talk about peace in Ukraine, the idea of a "win-win" solution can sound unrealistic , maybe even offensive, given the suffering, destruction, and displacement the war has caused. But if peace is ever to happen, both sides will have to find a solution that they can live with. That’s where game theory, the study of strategic decision-making, can help us imagine what a balanced peace might look like. What Is Game Theory, and Why Does It Matter? Game theory is a tool used to understand how people , or countries, make choices when the outcome depends on what others do. It’s often used in economics, politics, and even war strategy. In the case of Ukraine and Russia, we can think of the war as a game with two main players. Each wants to “win,” but the costs of continuing the war are high for both. So the key question becomes: Is there a way both sides could gain more by compromising than by continuing to fight? Understanding Each Side’s Core Goals To find a win-...

Eh, kijana, son of my favoured child, come and sit. Sit close to the fire , Alas, not too near, for even fire, which gives warmth, can burn the fool who leans too far. Let me tell you what my father told me, under this same old Mukhonge tree. This world, eh? It’s not just hills and rivers and sun. It is a food web , a round food chain, a great hunting ground. From the foothills of Mt Masaba to the hallowed river Namasanda from the silent farms to the ever-busy streets of Nairobi , Everything and everyone is either eating or being eaten. Even in the city, don’t be fooled by suits. Even in the church, don’t be fooled by robes. The same rule applies: Who eats what, and what eats whom ? And by the way, does the eater have table manners? Most of us are hens, sons of my son . Soft-footed, bright-eyed, busy with grain. Clucking about love, school, business, and church not knowing the hawk is circling above. The political vultures? They sit on signposts durin...

There once was a man with a furrowed brow, Who worried of when , and why , and how . He worried of yesterday’s awkward sneeze, And whether tomorrow might bring a breeze. He fretted the clouds, he feared the sun, He pondered if God was having fun. He questioned his purpose, his toes, his tea, And once lost sleep over a housefly . He worried his shadow was plotting revolt, That his heartbeat might one day call a halt. He feared that his thoughts were thinking too loud, And that existence itself was a bit too proud. He read every label, he triple-checked locks, He ironed his socks, then worried his looks . He asked if the moon was judging his shoes, And if existence was just bad news. But one day a whisper, soft as a sigh, Said, “Dear sir, you’re worrying yourself dry. All that matters is health, and keeping it sound For without it, you’re not even around .” “And beyond your doing, your reach, your might, Is a world that dances out of your sight. So breathe, dea...