Postcolonial turn : re-imagining anthropology and Africa Devisch, R.; Nyamnjoh, F. Citation Devisch, R., & Nyamnjoh, F. (Eds.). (2011). Postcolonial turn : re-imagining anthropology and Africa. Langaa Research, Bamenda, Cameroon. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/22177 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) License: Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/22177 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). The Postcolonial Turn Langaa & African Studies centre The Postcolonial Turn René Devisch Francis Nyamnjoh eds Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group PO Box 902 Mankon Bamenda North West Region Cameroon Phone +237 33 07 34 69 / 33 36 14 02 [email protected] http://www.langaa-rpcig.net www.africanbookscollective.com/publishers/langaa-rpcig African Studies Centre P.O. Box 9555 2300 RB Leiden The Netherlands [email protected] http://www.ascleiden.nl ISBN: © Langaa & African Studies Centre, 2011 Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................xi Contributors ......................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgements ................................................................................. xv 1 The Postcolonial Turn: An Introduction Adebayo Olukoshi & Francis Nyamnjoh.......................................... 1 A Scholarly Debate ....................................................................................1 Intellectual Colonialism versus the Pursuit of Endogeneity ................2 The Core of the Borderlinking Anthropological Endeavour ............6 Cosmopolitan Sciences and Local Knowledge .................................. 16 The ‘Clash of Civilisations’ Revisited ................................................... 20 Opening up the Research Design in and on Africa ........................... 25 Epilogue .................................................................................................... 26 Part 1 A Staunch Critique of Intellectual Colonialism and the Pursuit of Sociocultural Endogeneity................................................... 29 2 Africanity: A Combative Ontology ......................................... 31 Archie Mafeje................................................................................... 31 Prelude ....................................................................................................... 31 Africanity versus Afrocentrism .............................................................. 32 Africanity versus Vindicationism ........................................................... 34 There is Already Evidence of this ........................................................ 37 Africanity and the End of African Studies ......................................... 41 v 3 Against Alterity – The Pursuit of Endogeneity: Breaking Bread with Archie Mafeje Jimi O. Adesina ............................................................................... 45 Introduction .............................................................................................. 45 Meanings and Encounters ...................................................................... 46 Against Alterity ......................................................................................... 48 Negation of Negation: Mafeje on Anthropology............................. 52 Against Disciplinarity and Epistemology? ........................................... 59 The Pursuit of Endogeneity .................................................................. 60 A Return to Intimacy .............................................................................. 62 Lessons of Mafeje’s Scholarship ........................................................... 65 4 Mafeje and Langa: The Start of an Intellectual’s Journey John Sharp ....................................................................................... 71 The Langa Project ................................................................................... 71 Mafeje’s Field Research ........................................................................... 75 Rethinking Langa ..................................................................................... 81 Speaking Truth to Power ....................................................................... 84 Part 2 Bifocality at the Core of the Borderlinking Anthropological Endeavour.................................................................................... 89 5 What is an Anthropologist? René Devisch .................................................................................... 91 Journey 1: In the Congo, 1965–1974? ................................................. 92 Journey 2: Decolonising the Gaze ...................................................... 102 Journey 3: Witness to the Clash of Civilisations ............................... 105 Journey 4: How do I See Tomorrow’s Anthropologist? ............... 111 vi 6 Existential Dilemmas of a North Atlantic Anthropologist in the Production of Relevant Africanist Knowledge Wim M.J. van Binsbergen ............................................................. 117 Introduction ............................................................................................ 117 Anthropology as Intercultural Loyalty ............................................... 119 Witnessing ‘the Clash of Civilisations’? .............................................. 122 The Thrice-born Anthropologist ........................................................ 128 The Anthropologist as Hero................................................................ 133 7 KATA NOMON: Letter to René Devisch Valentin Y. Mudimbe.................................................................... 143 L..................................................................................................................egĕre 146 Meditari ................................................................................................... 160 Orare........................................................................................................ 174 Coda ........................................................................................................ 194 8 The Shared Borderspace, a Rejoinder René Devisch .................................................................................. 197 Intercultural Polylogue and its Ethic of Desire ................................ 201 A Rejoinder to van Binsbergen and Mudimbe ................................ 226 People’s Reappropriation of Local Knowledge .............................. 240 Towards an Intercultural Emancipation .................................................. 252 Part 3 Cross-pollination in African Academe between Cosmopolitan Sciences and Local Knowledge .............................................. 273 9 All Knowledge is first of all Local Knowledge Theophilus Okere, Chukwudi Anthony Njoku and René Devisch ............................................................................ 275 Political, Epistemological and Sociocultural Dimensions ............... 275 The Role of Whelan Research Academy........................................... 290 vii 10 Is there one Science, Western Science? Theophilus Okere .......................................................................... 297 Western Contribution to Science ......................................................... 303 Other Knowledge Traditions .............................................................. 307 Towards a Pluralistic and Complementary World Science............. 311 11 Ethnomathematics, Geometry and Educational Experiences in Africa Paulus Gerdes ................................................................................ 315 Ethnomathematical Research in Mozambique ................................. 317 Geometry / Mathematics in African History and Cultures ........... 320 Integration of Ethnomathematics into Teacher Education: in Nigeria ........................................................................................... 321 Part 4 Toward the Local Domestication of the Ruling Modern Logic: The ‘Clash of Civilisations’ Revisited................................... 337 12 Immunizing Strategies: Hip-hop and Critique in Tanzania Koen Stroeken ................................................................................ 339 Local Impact and Global Relevance .................................................. 344 Breaking Through the Mzee Code: ‘The New Generation’ .......... 348 Survival Strategies: Pessimism and Immunisation............................ 352 Duels and Brains: Streetwise Philosophy ........................................... 357 13 Christian Moderns: Parody in Matricentric Christian Healing Communnes of the Sacred Spirit in Kinshasa René Devisch .................................................................................. 367 Data and Methods ................................................................................ 369 Master Scenarios of Modernisation, Acculturation, and Citizenship ......................................................................................... 371 Deconstructing (post)Colonial Identity and Power Dichotomies . 376 viii Liturgy as a Whole-making Performative Site ................................. 380 Parody and the Potentialities of an Intertopos ................................. 392 Parody and Critical Encounter with the Otherness ......................... 397 Conclusion .............................................................................................