Transformations in Africana Studies: History, Theory, and Epistemology

Africana Studies is a multidisciplinary field that has evolved over the last fifty years to advance knowledge about Africa and the African diaspora. It has sought to challenge hegemonic Western epistemologies and Africanize knowledge in all fields of human endeavor. This book explores the foundations, theories, and methods of Africana Studies, and its interactions with popular culture, Women's Studies, and other area studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The field of Africana Studies, a multidisciplinary endeavor that has evolved over the past fifty years, has emerged as a vital intellectual pursuit for the production of knowledge about Africa and the African diaspora. This book serves as an introduction to this rich discipline, delving into its historical development and its role in challenging hegemonic Western epistemologies that have historically marginalized African indigenous ways of knowing.

Throughout the scholarly history, dominant Western epistemologies have often disregarded the authenticity of African indigenous knowledge systems. However, the post-colonial era has witnessed a steady and deliberate effort to expand the frontiers of knowledge about black people and their societies. This expansion has aimed to Africanize such bodies of knowledge across various fields of human endeavor.

This book reflects on the transformative journey of Africana Studies as it has sought to advance knowledge about the African world. The contributors explore the foundations of the discipline, its key theories and methods of knowledge production, and the ways in which it interacts with popular culture, Women's Studies, and other area studies such as Ethnic and Afro-Latinix Studies. By drawing upon a diverse range of insights from history, religion, literature, art, sociology, and philosophy, this book offers a comprehensive examination of Africana Studies.

For students and researchers interested in Africa and Africana Studies, this book is an essential read. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the field, offering valuable insights into its past, present, and future. Through its exploration of the multidisciplinary nature of Africana Studies, this book encourages readers to engage with the complex and multifaceted aspects of African and African diasporic experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the world and promoting social justice and equality.

Weight: 740g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032277493