On 9 April, the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria hosted an interesting talk. Prof. Babátúndé gave the talk under the guidance of Acting Dean Prof. SJ Cornelius. The talk was called “Framing the Scope and Study of Objects of Internationality in Pre- Africa”. It was an informative conversation that made people think about how International Law is taught and understood.
Prof. Babátúndé said that International Law has been shaped by ideas for a long time. He called this a “Euro-America validation category” that has made it difficult for non-European ideas to be heard. He explained that he thinks we should use an approach that includes African ideas and ways of thinking. This approach is not about fixing the problems; it is rather about changing the way we think about International Law.
He also talked about using “objects” to learn about International Law. These objects can include things such as clothes, stories, poems, maps, or even bones. They can help people understand how those in the past thought about law and diplomacy in the past. Prof. Babátúndé said that these objects can help us see the history of how countries interacted with each other.
The talk indicated that African customary law is not irrational or primitive. In fact, pre-colonial African societies had organised systems with rules and diplomatic procedures. They had messengers and diplomats who were respected and protected. They even had ways of making treaties like taking oaths and breaking kola nuts. These were rituals that showed they were committed to keeping their promises.
Prof. Babátúndé also thinks that the way International Law is taught should change. We should use different subjects like Storytelling, Archaeology, History, and Digital Technology. This will help students learn accurately and think about International Law in a more nuanced way. He said that people should not romanticise the past, but be faithful to the truth and include different perspectives.
The talk ended with a story from a Yoruba folktale. The story is about a goat and a monkey. It shows that knowledge is more powerful when it is original and specific. Such as the goats, African scholarship should celebrate its diversity and not try to be the same as everyone else.
In short, the talk was not about sharing ideas. It was about calling people to action. It challenged everyone to rethink International Law and to help decolonise it. By focusing on perspectives and pre-colonial systems, the talk added to the ongoing discussion and set an important agenda for future research.
The Faculty of Law hosting this talk was a moment in starting conversations that are locally and globally relevant. It reminded attendees that the story of International Law is more complex and inclusive than they often think. International Law is international, so it should include everyone’s perspectives. The Faculty of Law is helping to make International Law more inclusive by hosting talks like this one.
