Decolonising the Future Academy in Africa and Beyond

1. Why did you choose this topic?

In recent years, the decolonisation debate has been a dominant topic in academic literature debates as well as in activist circles, including student-led movements. This book takes inspiration from many forerunners in the history of anthropology at African Universities. It is the outcome of a series of three workshops and panels organised by the book’s editors aiming at sharing experiences and visions of how to decolonise the academy. This book contributes to the decolonisation debate by bringing in practical examples from African and German scholars.

2. What new perspectives does your book offer?

Two main themes and arguments are to be found in this book offering lessons learned to the decolonisation project. The first is institutional and disciplinary developments, with a focus on the trajectories of Anthropology. The contributors argue that these institutional developments have engendered early pathways of decolonising the academy on which current initiatives can draw. The second theme is collaboration between African and German scholars. We argue that such South-North collaborative efforts signal the way forward in decolonising the academy both in Africa and in Europe.

3. What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?

It is still true that decolonisation is an unfinished business, as stated by Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999). Therefore, we believe that in our time of historical conjuncture, it is crucial to offer the academy (including scholars and students), marginalised groups and communities, and decision-makers, some lessons learned from practical examples to take a further step in the decolonisation project, beyond high levels of abstractions and complexities of thoughts and concepts.

4. Choose one person you would like to discuss your book with?

We would like to discuss this book with Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, professor and chair of epistemologies of the Global South at the University of Bayreuth. Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a historian and a prominent decolonial/postcolonial theorist whose opinion on the main argument would surely enrich the debate.
We also would like to discuss our book with Isabella Aboderin, director of the Perivoli Africa Research Center (PARC), for her active role in the establishment of the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaboration.

5. Your book summary in one sentence:

Decolonising the academy is a two-way process that is not limited to universities in Africa but is as much a duty and endeavour of universities in the Global North.