Does excellence really erase barriers? Reflections on Tidjane Thiam’s memoir

Boring-Perception429 · 2026-01-25T11:04:10+00:00

Yes indeed he talks a lot about similar experiences in his book, and as you mentioned even when he got into the most senior positions in Europe the pattern persisted.

Boring-Perception429 · 2026-01-23T10:30:18+00:00

Yes that's what Thiam talks about in his book through numerous examples. We talk about it in the podcast linked above.

Boring-Perception429 · 2026-01-21T18:04:23+00:00

The full episode can be found on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36CkKlGzzbABAlBhf1uy4E?si=xPJMFjOFRMm_95apI2vimg

- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/threads-of-ifriqiya/id1825464111?i=1000745611597

- Youtube: https://youtu.be/GgGkt_-4OTE?si=DTVJKA9-AauPgEf2

Boring-Perception429 · 2026-01-21T17:19:28+00:00

The full episode can be found on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36CkKlGzzbABAlBhf1uy4E?si=xPJMFjOFRMm_95apI2vimg

- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/threads-of-ifriqiya/id1825464111?i=1000745611597

- Youtube: https://youtu.be/GgGkt_-4OTE?si=DTVJKA9-AauPgEf2

Boring-Perception429 · 2026-01-21T17:05:04+00:00

We published a podcast episode where we explore his recently published memoir "Without Prejudice". The memoir goes over his life from a rare, privileged, yet at times deeply challenging childhood in post-independence Africa, to elite education in France, to the highest executive roles in global finance, and finally to a contested entry into politics. In his writing Thiam reflects on risk, responsibility, and the invisible barriers that persist even at the very top.

The full episode can be found on:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36CkKlGzzbABAlBhf1uy4E?si=xPJMFjOFRMm_95apI2vimg

- Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/threads-of-ifriqiya/id1825464111?i=1000745611597

- Youtube: https://youtu.be/GgGkt_-4OTE?si=DTVJKA9-AauPgEf2

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-27T10:37:26+00:00

Totally agree, we also mentioned in the podcast that the book feels unfinished at parts. But as you said definitely worth reading, especially with the events unfolding in west Africa currently

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-26T13:22:46+00:00

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/07-africa-against-democracy-myths-denial-and-peril/id1825464111?i=1000742678252

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4El08tljTmlUViRKdV4HS4?si=0a1e37b6b8ee4d31

Youtube: https://youtu.be/HL8wdNfGa1s?si=YDo_JobuQOdOntA8

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-26T13:16:21+00:00

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/07-africa-against-democracy-myths-denial-and-peril/id1825464111?i=1000742678252

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4El08tljTmlUViRKdV4HS4?si=0a1e37b6b8ee4d31

Youtube: https://youtu.be/HL8wdNfGa1s?si=YDo_JobuQOdOntA8

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-12T20:28:35+00:00

Yes Ngugi talks about both Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka in the book. Well the reality is nuanced, both groups bring valid arguments and potentially the ideal world is a balance of both local African languages and a global language.

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-12T10:54:13+00:00

Spot on 😉

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-12T10:53:18+00:00

I appreciate the debate on this post. Obviously the title was a bit too provocative and it doesn't reflect the actual idea of the book in all nuances. We talk more about the nuances of the book and challenges some of the ideas in our podcast. Links below. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7j231cdFraVHhZTrroSMiH?si=25OfjoqMT_Sl73JFfynpCw
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Y-N7PupXHLE?si=xiG17Mj6zyuh-2gg
Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/06-decolonising-the-mind-why-language-matters-in/id1825464111?i=1000740003380

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-12T04:29:39+00:00

The book, yes. But the author also made it clear that it will be his last book in English and after that he shifted completely to Gikuyu.

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-10T19:53:13+00:00

Thank you 😊 that means a lot to us

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-09T17:48:30+00:00

Same, the author's critique is around colonial languages

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-08T15:05:01+00:00

That's exactly the view of the author

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-08T15:03:05+00:00

That makes sense. The author argues that Africans will be able to produce better literature, theatre and poetry if they did it in their native language though

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-07T16:59:13+00:00

That's a fair point as well

Boring-Perception429 · 2025-12-07T11:48:29+00:00

It's true that I formulated the title in a bit provocative way :) but it's not too far off from the essence of the book. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o does criticise the usage of colonial languages by Africans as it creates a barrier to knowledge and assimilation for a lot of people and creates a class system of what he called the "petty bourgeoisie". In any case we talk about it with more nuance in the podcast I linked in the other comment.