The Edges in the Middle, III: Báyò Akómoláfé and Indy Johar

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May 24, 2023

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Báyò Akómoláfé

Guest

Indy Johar

Báyò Akómoláfé and Indy Johar engage in a conversation about the objective nature of self and the world around us. They discuss the aliveness of the world, the agency and intelligence of our entangled minds, and the need to move beyond constraining ideas of order, power, and control. They explore the deep-rooted problems of identity and ownership, the impact of the Enlightenment era, and the role of blackness in societal boundaries. The chapter also emphasizes the need to embrace complexity, analog experiences, and biological connections to reclaim our humanity.

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ANECDOTE

Anancy Story As A Gasping Frame

Báyò told the Anancy story about greed and stuffing gravy into his hat as a childhood parable.
He uses the tale to signal our heads are 'hot' and that a new theory of the self begins with a gasp.

INSIGHT

Crisis Of Relation Not Just Nature

Climate and biodiversity crises stem from our relationship with the world, not only external factors.
Objectifying language and institutions concretize violence and waste, deepening ecological collapse.

INSIGHT

Language Frames Life As Dead Matter

Modern language treats the world as 'dead things,' shaping economics and institutions accordingly.
We become what our language frames, so perceiving other agencies can free us.

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Continuing the conversation series, “The Edges in the Middle,” presented in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute, For The Wild is delighted to share Báyò Akómoláfé in conversation with Indy Johar of Dark Matter Labs.

Speaking on the theme “A New Theory of the Self,” Báyò and Indy dive into the milieu of life forms entangled together on earth. The conversation asks listeners to reconsider the objective nature of self and the word around us that has been so deeply ingrained within the architecture of society. Rejecting these notions of completion and singularity, Báyò and Indy engage in a conversation that calls attention to the aliveness of the world, to the agency and intelligence of our entangled minds, and to life as an ongoing process. How might we move beyond constraining ideas of order, power, and control in order to recognize and take part in relational ecological emergence?

“The Edges in the Middle” is a series of conversations between Báyò Akómoláfé and thought companions like john a. powell, V, Naomi Klein, and more. These limited episodes have been adapted from Báyò’s work as the Global Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley's Othering & Belonging Institute. In this role, Báyò has been holding a series of public conversations on issues of justice and belonging for the Institute's Democracy & Belonging Forum, which connects and resources civic leaders in Europe and the US who are committed to bridging across difference to strengthen democracy and advance belonging in both regions and around the world. Báyò's conversations encourage us to rethink justice, hope, and belonging by sitting amidst the noise, not trying to cover it up with pleasant rhythms. To learn more about the Democracy & Belonging Forum, visit democracyandbelongingforum.org.

Music by Sitka Sun, generously provided by The Long Road Society Record Label. Visit our website at forthewild.world for the full episode description, references, and action points.

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