Decolonizing African Knowledge: Autoethnography and African Epistemologies

This book explores African knowledge systems through autoethnography,grounding itself in alternative archives and highlighting the convergence of private and public data to understand society,public consciousness,and cultural identity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 524 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This groundbreaking book delves into the profound consequences of European slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on African history, knowledge, and its institutions. By employing autoethnography, the author seeks to understand African knowledge systems in a decolonial context. Through a holistic approach, the book explores the Self and Yoruba Being (the individual and the collective) within the framework of the African decolonial project. By avoiding colonial archival sources, the book relies on alternative archives generated by memory, spoken words, images, and photographs to examine a range of themes, including politics, culture, nation, ethnicity, satire, poetry, magic, myth, metaphor, sculpture, textiles, hair, and gender. The text is vividly illustrated in color, employing diverse and innovative methods to access an African way of knowing.

The book explores the diverse ways in which societies understand and present themselves, highlighting the convergence of private and public data to provide a comprehensive understanding of society, public consciousness, and cultural identity. It sheds light on the complex interplay between historical events, cultural practices, and societal structures, challenging Eurocentric narratives and promoting a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of African history and knowledge.

Overall, this book is a valuable contribution to the field of African studies, offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of African history and knowledge. It provides a rich and nuanced account of the ways in which European colonialism and its aftermath have shaped African societies and institutions, and offers insights into the ongoing struggle for decolonization and the reconstruction of African knowledge systems.

Weight: 968g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316511237