1st Edition

African Intellectuals in the Post-colonial World

By Fetson A Kalua Copyright 2020
    102 Pages
    by Routledge

    102 Pages
    by Routledge

    This book examines the role of African intellectuals in the years since the end of colonialism, studying the contribution that has been made by such individuals, both to political causes and to development within Africa.



    Studying the concept of the "intellectual" within an African context, this book explores the responses of such individuals to crucial issues, such as cultural identity and knowledge production. The author argues that since the end of colonialism in Africa, various, often intertwining, factors, such as nationalism and co-option, have been used by black politicians or the political elites to muddle the roles and functions of black African intellectuals. Focusing on these confused roles and functions, the book posits that, over the years, most intellectuals in Africa have found the practice of "cheerleading" for a political cause more productive than making valuable contributions towards dynamic and progressive leadership in their countries.



    This book will be of interest to students and scholars of African studies, politics, and development studies.

    1. Theorizing the Concept of an Intellectual  2. The ‘ivory tower’ Intellectual  3. The Dilemmas of African Intellectuals since the end of Colonialism  4. African Intellectuals and Decolonization of Knowledge  5. Taking a leaf from the Western Intellectual  6. A Paradigm of an African Intellectual in the Twenty-First Century 

    Biography

    Fetson A. Kalua is a professor of English at the University of South Africa.