Author: Jim Spire Ssentongo:
A genius is an exceptionally intelligent person or one with exceptional skill in a particular area of activity. When trying to identify genius, do not look among those that try hard to be like others. Be keener on those who often try to act differently, and that are not bothered by not being like everyone else.
Geniuses push boundaries of ‘normal’. Anyone who fits perfectly into what society considers to be normal is not a genius, because; there is little thinking in that. All it takes is towing the ideal line. Such mindsets can’t create anything. They can only be imitators.
And, geniuses also rarely find satisfaction in accumulation of wealth (a life devoted to pursuit of riches). They also rarely succeed with marriage, except where they’re lucky to find someone very understanding. But even then, they easily get bored because they are not designed for satisfaction even when they find answers.
This is not helped by the fact that there may be very few geniuses without personality disorders. For instance, a good number of them are bipolar.
One of the fundamental development challenges of our African societies is that many of our cultures mostly groom us to become obedient conformists. Difference and questioning are often punished at home and in school. Natural geniuses are forced to act average. Many geniuses end up conflicting with rigid teachers and dropping out of school.
Some societies are keen on identifying genius and facilitating them for optimal innovation (their weirdness notwithstanding). Many of our societies instead ostracise, stigmatise, and discourage genius by normalising mediocrity and glorifying parrot memory more than imagination.
Jim Spire Ssentongo is a Philosophy teacher, cartoonist, columnist and human rights activist.