Did you know that there are universities in the world with over 800 years of existence?

Did you know that there are academies in the world with over 400 years of existence?

Did you know that there are press reviews with over 250 years of existence?

Did you know that there are Science Academies in the Vatican?

Did you know that there are priests who are scientists?

Did you know that the first Muslim Nobel laureate in history is a Particle Physicist who didn’t believe that Mohammed was the last prophet?

If these questions surprise you, it’s not a big deal, as you are like most members of the global black community who live in a perpetual dichotomy on subjects that deserve nuance, critical thinking, and a global perspective to question history or the present for understanding. There is often propaganda perpetuated that positions blacks as the bearers of world traditions, capitalizing on the fallacious pretext of being the cradle of humanity and civilizations. The works recognized by the 2022 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology by geneticist paleontologist Svante Paabo certainly confirm these facts.

However, it reminds us that this is an open question. Instead of resting on a scientific theory that suits our desires, we should examine the evolution of ideas on this matter and consider how to conduct our own research in the next decade to contribute to the advancement of science. What is a tradition, after all?

I. TRADITIONS: THE DNA OF HUMANITY

Regardless of the definition given by Larousse dictionary or within our communities, tradition essentially boils down to “Do this in memory of…”, akin to the concept of a testament. Mandatories must scrupulously respect it to be in harmony with the memory of the testator or ancestors, intending to perpetuate values, codes, both sartorial and cultural traditions, and the legacy bequeathed; otherwise, one risks decline.

This applies not only to family heritage but also to businesses, organizations, academies, the press, and religions aiming for longevity over decades or centuries — no matter the religious or secular affiliation.

So, where does this monopoly on the notion of tradition by black communities come from? It seems more like a lack of cultural knowledge, boasting about a glorious past served on a silver platter, preventing an understanding of how humans, regardless of their culture, are beings of habit and tradition.

The intention is not to criticize the black community but to make them understand that traditions mark enduring state or religious institutions. There’s no need to be offended by a sacrificial scapegoat at the funeral of a personality from a community other than ours, as if we hold the monopoly on animal sacrifice, while another community has a heritage of over a thousand years in cannibalism, documented by several renowned historians.

II. NOBEL PRIZE: A MATTER OF TRADITION

Do you know why the Nobel Prize has been awarded since its first edition in October 1901?

Do you know why the ceremony to award medals to Nobel laureates has been held in December for over 100 years?

Alfred Nobel was born on October 21, 1833, and died on December 10, 1896. You can see that this is a matter of tradition, respected for over 100 years in memory of the Swedish engineer, chemist, inventor, and philanthropist with 355 patents. He dedicated his fortune and legacy to reward achievements in the service of human progress.

In another piece, we will delve into the history behind the creation of the Nobel Prize and its organizational structure in the nomination, selection process, and the constitution of committees.

Returning to this tradition, it has specific features that seem to highlight scientists belonging to organized religions in a significant proportion. One might have thought that science, especially the hard sciences like physics, chemistry, physiology, and economics, would be more associated with atheists than practicing religious individuals who are often criticized for being partisan or lacking sufficient critical thinking. Let’s explore together what the numbers say.

III. CHRISTIANITY HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF NOBEL PRIZES IN HISTORY

According to a study published in 2003 by Israeli geneticist Baruch Shalev for the celebration of the 100 years of the Nobel Prizes, from 1901 to 2000, with 628 laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace, and since 1969 in Economics, laureates are distributed among 28 religions:

• 65.4% are Christians, although it’s difficult to distinguish between Catholics and Protestants in many cases. There’s a significant proportion of Protestant laureates in scientific disciplines and Catholic laureates in literature and peace, according to data analysis.
• 10.5% are free thinkers or atheists, with a 35% proportion in literature, possibly explained by their lack of attachment to any form of religion allowing them to express universal ideas.
• The most surprising statistic was attributed to the Jewish religion, with 20% of Nobel laureates coming from this community. This includes 17% in Chemistry, 26% in Medicine and Physics, 40% in Economics, and finally, 11% in literature and peace. This is particularly surprising since Jews represent 0.2% of the world’s population, about 13 million people.
• In contrast, the Muslim community, representing 20% of the world’s population, or 1.2 billion people, had only 5 Nobel Prizes in all categories combined, accounting for 0.8% of laureates at the beginning of our century. Although the proportion of Muslim laureates has increased, with the youngest Nobel laureate in 2014 being Muslim.

IV. JEWS AND MUSLIMS: THE DUEL OF EXTREMES

A community representing 0.2% of the world’s population concentrating 20% of Nobel laureates, amounting to 138 out of 628 in 100 years. What could explain this Jewish dominance in global science?

According to Baruch Shalev, there are several reasons for this excellence in science:

The minority status of the Jewish community, without a formal state destined for them, pushed them to excel to survive.

Jews were not allowed to be farmers or workers, i.e., landowners in Europe for several centuries. They were only allowed to engage in commerce and studies.

According to Shalev, the hardships of deportation and the infamous Holocaust of Jews during World War II played a major role in the Jews’ will to survive and succeed worldwide.

Lastly, the financial power of Jews, who, after the creation of the State of Israel in 1949, massively invested in scientific research, not to mention the military and political support of the United States.

V. PHYSICIST ABDUS SALAM: THE FIRST MUSLIM NOBEL LAUREATE

On the other hand, the Muslim community received its very first Nobel in 1979 for the work of the brilliant particle physicist Abdus Salam in Quantum Chromodynamics with Weinberg and Glashow.

Abdus Salam was a member of the Ahmadi movement, a minority Muslim religious group that considers its founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet, unlike other mainstream Muslim sects that believe Mohammed is the last prophet. These deep religious differences reached a climax in 1953 when violent riots broke out in Lahore against the movement. Many deaths occurred, and the government took no measures to appease the situation. In fact, in 1974, a law declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims and depriving them of their rights was enacted.

Faced with this situation, Salam returned to Cambridge for a few years and then continued his journey to Imperial College London. In the 1970s, he contributed to Pakistan’s development of nuclear weapons. However, after the 1974 law, Salam was gradually sidelined from the country’s progress.

Five years later, Abdus Salam became the first Pakistani and the first Muslim to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics and the Nobel Prize overall. However, he was disowned by his own country. At his death in 1996, his tombstone bore the inscription “Abdus Salam, the first Muslim Nobel laureate,” a final humiliation for a scientist who only wished to serve his country.

Additionally, Abdus Salam founded the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics to promote theoretical science in minority communities within the discipline.

VI. LESSONS FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

The proliferation of revival churches on the continent could have been a harbinger of a future army of Nobel laureates or even the next Einsteins to lift Africa from over half a millennium of colonization and slavery. Unfortunately, the reality painted is similar to medieval Europe, but the tools and mechanisms are different: Image and mass manipulation through new technologies to shape our paradigms and render our actions ineffective. If you control a people’s paradigms, you can determine their future and remain calm in the face of any attempt at liberation and emancipation, whether scientific, technological, industrial, or political. It is urgent for Africans to educate themselves sufficiently to understand the traditions of each domain they wish to explore. Modern concepts defining the traditions of a domain include standards, norms, protocols, strategic and geopolitical monitoring, publications, lobbying — to avoid investing in areas for years and then being unable to impact the future of our continent in line with its challenges due to poor strategic choices.

What do members of the Jewish community say?

The Jews are a model of excellence that others have drawn inspiration from, notably the Indians who now dominate Silicon Valley. Naturalized American Indians make up nearly 30% of Fortune 500 companies, preserving their attachment to their original community and inspiring the younger generation by excelling in the world’s leading technological companies.

So, African, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, traditionalist, a descendant of the Sun God, etc., what kind of scientist, engineer, entrepreneur are you for our community? Because that’s the only question that matters.