Decolonizing African Knowledge
Autoethnography and African Epistemologies
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Published:13th Mar '25
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- Hardback£31.00(9781316511237)
Uses textual and visual materials on the 'Self' to understand how African ways of thinking shape the nature of societies.
Addressing the consequences of colonialism on African history, knowledge and its institutions, this innovative work from one of Africa's most eminent historians uses memory, visual aesthetics and literature to consider the 'Self' and Yoruba Being in the context of the African decolonial project.Addressing the consequences of European slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on African history, knowledge and its institutions, this innovative book applies autoethnography to the understanding of African knowledge systems. Considering the 'Self' and Yoruba Being (the individual and the collective) in the context of the African decolonial project, Falola strips away Eurocentric influences and interruptions from African epistemology. Avoiding colonial archival sources, it grounds itself in alternative archives created by memory, spoken words, images and photographs to look at the themes of politics, culture, nation, ethnicity, satire, poetics, magic, myth, metaphor, sculpture, textiles, hair and gender. Vividly illustrated in colour, it uses diverse and novel methods to access an African way of knowing. Exploring the different ways that a society understands and presents itself, this book highlights convergence, enmeshing private and public data to provide a comprehensive understanding of society, public consciousness, and cultural identity.
'In offering a monumental feast for African Studies, Toyin Falola challenges us to look critically beyond disciplinary boundaries by proposing painstaking indigenous paths to scholarly self-determination in the domain of African knowledge production, where the rain of Western epistemologies continues to beat us.' Rowland Abiodun, Amherst College
'Even regular readers of the rich and expansive oeuvre of the indefatigable and prolific historian, Toyin Falola, will find a wealth of new insights and fresh analysis weaved around 'autoethnography' as an archive, concept and methodology that is ideal for self-understanding of Africa and Africans. With his unwavering commitment to decolonizing knowledge, Falola's new book is illuminating on aspects of self, nation, culture, art, gender, photography, and everything to do with Africa and Africans.' Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, University of Bayreuth
'Toyin Falola's book, which explores the connection between autoethnography and African studies, opens numerous intellectual possibilities in a characteristically lucid manner. It adds a much-needed scholarly voice and perspective to the burgeoning field of decolonial studies. This offering is most certainly an earnest breath of fresh air by Africa's most impressive historian.' Sanya Osha, University of Cape Town
'Falola mines extensive personal archives to provide an alternative to Western-derived hegemonic research methodologies from an individual perspective that incorporates autoethnography and its reflections on the self and the larger shared community … Recommended.' E. P. Renne, Choice
ISBN: 9781009048934
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 27mm
Weight: 856g
533 pages