KATANGEEISM, POSITIVE DYNAMISM PITCHED AGAINST VANDALISM & RADICALISM – THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN OLD FELLOW

The writer was admitted into the University of Katanga in the year 2007 and graduated with a BA Katanga Degree in 2011. He was the Choir Master and at the same time JCR Secretary for the 2010/2011 Academic Year. He was a Member of the Hall’s 2010 Constitution Review Committee and a Ranking Member of the Katanga Dame Council from 1^st to 2^nd Year and became the Chair in 3^rd and 4^th Year. He was part of the Hall’s 2010/2011 Best Debating Team that conquered KNUST in that academic year.

He was instrumental in almost all “actions” that happened at his time and earned the accolade “Strong Boy” largely because of his high involvement in Katanga matters. He was one of the Students of the Hall, (though was only two months old on campus), who demonstrated in 2007 for more taxis on campus. He had several engagements with the University Authorities and Committees of Enquiries in respect of matters related to the University Hall. After school, he did his National Service as a Research Assistant on campus and resided at the Shaba Province and was the Liaison for the Students of the Hall and the Alumni, Kumasi Chapter. He was present at Manhyia every Friday to support the students to maintain the morale in the Hall.

While his experiences may not compare with the rich ones of other Senior Fellows and Past Students of the Hall, he hopes his background qualifies him to provide a candid reflection on what Positive Dynamism and for that matter Katangeeism stands for.
   

The Philosophy of the University Hall provides as follows: “the destiny of this University lies with solidarity, positive dynamism and for that matter in Katangeeism”.  Therefore, critically speaking, Katangeeism simply means solidarity and positive dynamism. But has this any connotation with vandalism otherwise called destruction/violence and radicalism (having extreme views)?  I rule out completely vandalism from my definition of Katangeeism because there is nothing positively dynamic in rooting for violence or destruction for its own sake. But I include radicalism as central to Katangeeism and what makes us radical is that, we think about the University in a manner beyond the level of an ordinary student. However,  I qualify further that, as David Bromwich describes Abraham Lincoln, Katangeese are “constitutional” radicals.

We are not vandals. We are never destructive. Katangeeism excludes everything vandalism for we are never interested in destruction, or violence, though unfortunately, in some cases, the after notes of some of our actions suggest so and this is where I think, as Radically Sober Intellectuals, we need to sit back and take stock of the aftermaths of our inherently non-evil actions and let the “dynamism” leg of Katangeeism become evident.  I reason that, the dynamics in students’ activism have significantly changed with time and developments. Accordingly, if Katangeeism was to serve its intended goal of safeguarding “the destiny” of the University, then it cannot operate as it did 50 years ago, or in my immediate past generation (2007-2011).

Katangeeism is never about alcoholism, destruction, confrontation nor violence. Not at all! Yes it includes meeting as a family on Fridays after a stressful week to destress and familiarize but not just that. It also importantly means academic excellence – the reason why any class except first class is abominable, although second class upper is also appreciated. Katangeeism is about thinking radically different from all the other students of the University and using the products of these thoughts to advance the interest of all students – this is why it is un-Katanga to hurt in any manner, any student of the University whichever Hall he or she is a resident of. Katangeeism is about bending the rules and regulations of the University for positive and sometimes funny reasons without necessarily breaking them – this makes us Constitutional Radicals.

The aftermaths of Katangeeism brings about innovative policies, projects and events meant to advance students interests and project the image of our Hall and the University at large. It should be fighting for things like the Students’ Clinic in 2006/2007, fighting for more taxis on campus which  eventually led to the addition of shuttles in 2007/2008, forcing the University to abandon its policy to compulsorily sell neck ties and scarfs at neckcutting prices to students in 2008/2009, pressurising  the University to bring back photocopying joints in the Halls in 2009/2010 when they attempted to remove them from the Halls.  

Positive Dynamism and for that matter Katangeeism is defined to include things like fighting for students’ safety and rooting out careless driving and overspeeding which led to the construction of speed bumps all over campus, zebra crossings and the introduction of one way driving on campus in 2010/2011, causing to be built a stair case at Paa Joe Roundabout, behind UNITY HALL to allow for safe crossing from that spot in 2010/2011, petitioning against “Only Dropping Services” of Campus Taxi Drivers in 2010/2011, winning KNUST Inter-Hall Debate Competion for four consecutive years (2007-2011), becoming the First Hall of Residence in Ghana to play football match with Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2011 (a match which had the ace sports journalist, Kwabena Yeboah as one of the spectators), becoming the First Hall to Perform Live

Charging on the Biggest Entertainment Show in Ghana, TV3 Music Music in 2011, becoming the Best Male Hall in West Africa in 2011/2012  etc etc.

The exploits include doing  funny but memorable things like naming GUSSS Hostel as Brunei, Ghana Hostels as GAZA, the Road to the Faculty as Mecca Road, Royal Parade Grounds as Haiti Grounds, Law Faculty as The Hague and the current naming of the Commercial Area Shopping Mall, Jubile Mall as Dubai Mall. Enjoy yourselves and help other students to laugh their stress away during your Hall Festivals with funny dresses like Kaba & Slit, Girlie-Girlie, FCUBE, Zulu etc etc.  They are part of Katangeeism but please dont be caught for indescent exposure! Remember, to secure permit for the Proce and please leave the flowerpots of the Halls alone. Also do not touch the fish in Indece Pond!

That is all that Positive Dynamism and Katangeeism stand for – advancing the cause of students and humanity. Its all about “misbehaving” (how students who envy us call our funnily seductive character) on campus but within the confines of the rules and regulations. We bend the University laws, but we do not break them. We respect the authorities yet we challenge them.   

The destruction, violence, vandalism, confrontations and mistakes of our time are not for your emulation but for your guidance in order for you to avoid the problems we had. We are hoping to hear more on a “Learned Katanga” that is advancing the cause of students and safeguarding the destiny of the University.  

Long live the University of Katanga!!!!

Long Live the University Hall
Long Live Fellows!!!
Rest Not the Chosen Ones!!!

FESTIVAL GODWIN BOATENG

2010/2011 Choir Master & Hall Secretary
Master Student of Global Studies & Int. Dev’t Studies,
Roskilde University, Denmark
Bfsvl1988@gmail.com / bfsvl@yahoo.com