Towards Decolonizing African History and Visions of Development

Many Africans now believe that true independence will only begin with the decolonization of the continent’s history and visions of development; that independence goes beyond the removal of colonial administrations when Africans took over the institutions of government merely as gatekeepers of the colonial heritage. African knowledge systems and institutions have continued to be undervalued because of the dominance of Eurocentric mindsets and practices. The movement for decolonization seeks an alternative model of development rooted in African values, and that integrates the traditional knowledge and institutions of local communities in the continent. The paper reviews the trends in African studies and historiography that challenge the unjust traditions, prejudices and exclusion inherent in the colonial legacy. It seeks to restore the distorted image of Africa, and to consider how best to achieve cultural decolonization and self-determination that reconciles modernity with African traditions and institutions. it seeks a model of development that tries to reshape power relations, redress past inequalities, and renegotiate new partnerships with the former colonial powers, and with the new global powers of China and the USA, on the basis of mutual respect, and on terms that ensure that Africa regains control over its politics and economy. The decolonization movement is now complemented by growing decolonial activism, such as the Rhodes-Must-Fall epistemic revolts in Southern Africa against an unjust educational system, and the sustained agitation for the restitution of priceless African artifacts and other items of Africa’s cultural heritage plundered during the colonial period. But there is little consensus on how best to respond in a balanced way to the colonial legacy and Western modernity without throwing out the baby with the bathwater. For this, the paper draws insights from recent studies like EADI's Challenging Global Development: Towards Decoloniality and Justice; and Olufemi Taiwo's book: Against Decolonization …