So my title is somewhat provaticve. But I've been more and more convinced of it as I've been exploring african literature and intellectual culture throughout lectures and seeing what kind of books are available. What I found is not pleasant the entire discourse is about oppression, colonialism, neocolonlaism. imperalism, third world solidarity( notice its just a bunch of catchphrases) . "Breaking the chains of global oppression " . 50 years ago it was somewhat intresting. But there is literally nothing else african intellctuals and the diaspora. Plus the white people involved in this talk about. It made me realize there is nothing of substance in basically 90% of african studies or post colonial studies and it's adjacent fields. No country that is actually progressing focuses on these things . Outside of its use as a political tool. Look at the Asian countries(forget about east asia its even more advanced) . These people consume their own culutral prooducts and don't spend all their time navel gazing and focused on their oppressd past they see it as only part of the past. Their intellectuals have something of substance to say not endldss discussion of colonalism and what the west owes us . I'm not saying this stuff has no value. But the reality is if their was real economic and intellectual growth nobody would be talking about this stuff. It's really just cope for the most part.