The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge (African Systems of Thought)

"... groundbreaking... clear, straightforward, and economical.... seminal... " -- American Anthropologist"This is a challenging book... a remarkable contribution to African intellectual history." -- International Journal of African Historical Studies"Mudimbe's description of the struggles over Africa's self-invention are vivid and rewarding. From Blyden to Sartre, Temples to Senghor, Mudimbe provides a bold and versatile resume of Africa's literary inventors." -- Village Voice Literary Supplement"... a landmark achievement in African studies." -- Journal of Religion in AfricaIn this unique and provocative book, Zairean philosopher and writer V. Y. Mudimbe addresses the multiple scholarly discourses that exist -- African and non-African -- concerning the meaning of Africa and being African. What Is The Meaning Of Africa And Being An African? What Is And What Is Not African Philosophy? Is Philosophy Part Of Africanism? These Are The Kinds Of Fundamental Questions That This Book Addresses. V.y. Mudimbe Argues That The Various Discourses Themselves Establish The Worlds Of Thought In Which People Conceive Their Identity. Western Anthropology And Missionaries Have Introduced Distortions Not Only For Outsiders But Also For Africans Trying To Understand Themselves. Mudimbe Goes Beyond The Classic Issues Of African Anthropology Or History. He Says That The Book Attempts An Archeology Of African Gnosis As A System Of Knowledge In Which Major Philosophical Questions Recently Have Arisen: First, Concerning The Form, The Content, And The Style Of Africanizing Knowledge; Second, Concerning The Status Of Traditional Systems Of Thought. He Is Directly Concerned With The Processes Of Transformation Of Different Types Of Knowledge.--book Cover. Introduction --- I. Discourse Of Power And Knowledge Of Otherness --- Ii. Questions Of Method --- Iii. The Power Of Speech --- Iv. E.w. Blyden's Legacy And Questions --- V. The Patience Of Philosophy --- Conclusion: The Geography Of A Discourse. V.y. Mudimbe. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 205-232. Mudimbe, V. Y., 1941-......Page 4 DISCOURSE OF POWER AND KNOWLEDGE OF OTHERNESS......Page 14 Discursive Formations and Otherness......Page 18 “African Genesis”......Page 29 Foucault's Proposition on the Disappearing Subject......Page 37 The Savage Mind's Kingdom......Page 41 An African Amplification......Page 48 The Missionary's Discourse and Africa's Conversion......Page 57 Figure 3. The Missionary Theology of Salvation......Page 66 The Panacea of Otherness......Page 96 Ideologies for Otherness......Page 100 The Ambiguities of an Ideological Alternative......Page 111 “Black Personality” as Common Locus......Page 131 The “Economy” of a Discourse......Page 142 “Primitive Philosophies”......Page 148 Kagame and the Ethnophilosophical School......Page 158 Aspects of African Philosophy......Page 166 A Critique of Ethnophilosophy......Page 167 Foundations......Page 174 Horizons of Knowledge......Page 188 THE GEOGRAPHY OF A DISCOURSE......Page 200 ETHIOPIAN SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE......Page 214 Library of Congress Cataioging-in-Publication Data 4 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data 4 Mudimbe, V. Y., 1941- 4 DISCOURSE OF POWER AND KNOWLEDGE OF OTHERNESS 14 Discursive Formations and Otherness 18 “African Genesis” 29 QUESTIONS OF METHOD 37 Foucault's Proposition on the Disappearing Subject 37 The Savage Mind's Kingdom 41 An African Amplification 48 THE POWER OF SPEECH 57 The Missionary's Discourse and Africa's Conversion 57 Figure 3. The Missionary Theology of Salvation 66 The Panacea of Otherness 96 Ideologies for Otherness 100 E. W BLYDEN'S LEGACY AND QUESTIONS 111 The Ambiguities of an Ideological Alternative 111 “Black Personality” as Common Locus 131 The “Economy” of a Discourse 142 “Primitive Philosophies” 148 Kagame and the Ethnophilosophical School 158 Aspects of African Philosophy 166 A Critique of Ethnophilosophy 167 Foundations 174 Horizons of Knowledge 188 Conclusion 200 THE GEOGRAPHY OF A DISCOURSE 200 APPENDIX 214 ETHIOPIAN SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE 214