TO ANDRIUS KULIKAUSKAS

Hello Andrius,

I have only just seen the Tom Wayburn email you quote. I agree with a lot of the points he makes - but feel it is crucial to intervene: and point something important out.

He says: "If you read Pinker's book
"The Blank Slat", you would realise that we are predisposed by adaptations that occurred very early in our evolution to prefer the company of people who resemble ourselves and our family members most closely. We are programmed to regard others with alarm as potential threats. As much as we try to resist it intellectually, underneath at the most basic level we are all racists."

I think it is important to point out that whiles there is some truth in what he says about the evolutionary past of humankind, Africans, however, may be an exception in that regard.

Based on empirical evidence from all over Africa throughout the centuries, in both urban and rural settings, Africans cannot possibly be described as racist in their attitude to non-Africans: be they Asian, Caucasian, Latin American and North American Indian, etc. etc.

Alas, it is this very welcoming nature of Africans, that successive waves of non-Africans making contact with us over the centuries, have abused and successfully exploited to lay their hands on the wealth of our continent - and to shortchange our continent and its people.

Then there is also the point, of course, that one would have to ask why, if we are all basically racist, there are so many inter-racial relationships of an intimate nature, all over the world - and in the most unlikely of places on our planet Earth, too?

If we are thinkers of positive thoughts, then one hopes that we can rise above the level of generalisation and stereotyping in our own individual lives: and in our discourse in a forum such as this - to enable the important experiment you and your friends are carrying out here in inter-racial harmony and peaceful co-existence, to go on: and ultimately succeed.

I am the first to condemn racists, but I always make it a point to make the point that it is the racist nature of the systems and the Establishments running and controlling them in the West and elsewhere, that we Africans ought to be wary of - and to always take into account in our dealings with the governments of Western and other nations we interact with.

The very interesting forum that you and your friends have created, mendenyo@yahoogroups.com, is an example of ordinary Caucasians and Africans, who are consciously trying to play their part in our common dream of bringing all the members of the human race together.

Having fathered mixed-race children myself and being a father who cares about their futures in Japan and the UK where their mothers hail from, fighting for a world in which there is less racial prejudice, matters a great deal to me - as does the need to help tell the rest of the world the many positive stories about a resurgent Africa: to counter unfair media bias in the West!

Yes, the average Caucasian may be a little afraid of people of colour because they may not have grown up with them - but you and I are dealing with each other, are we not? Although initially you did say it was thinking you cared about, and not Africa, today you propose to live in Kenya for six months in the year, if you can obtain a grant.

That is progress in my view - for you have overcome your initial reaction voiced to me, sufficiently, to think about living in Africa. Well, I hope you do Andrus - because it will change you forever: and for the better too, believe me!

Hundreds of thousands of Caucasians who have lived in Africa for any length of time over the years, have all returned home as changed individuals - having undergone a life-enhancing and life-changing experience, whiles here.

There is a lot Africa and Africans can teach the rest of the world about the basic humanity inherent in all human beings. Stay blessed - and greetings to all at Mendenyo!

Kofi.