ABSTRACT
Chapter 6 provides the context of the rapidly changing world of the twenty-first century and argues for the kind of engaged intellectual whose knowledge or broad understanding of reality is at the service of humanity. The emphasis is placed on proffering examples of African intellectuals, irrespective of race, who have initiated visible change or sweeping reforms in their societies. It offers a paradigm of what kind of intellectuals Africa needs in the twenty-first century in order for African societies to attain real advancement in all spheres of knowledge (and life), such as education, health, food production, democracy, human rights, and related freedoms. The paragons of intellectualism in this chapter are either black or white people from the African continent who have proved to be well-informed and engaged individuals on a range of issues and discourses which matter in society.
