Mudimbe's Lesson: Why Does Foreign Domination Persist in African Achievement Scoring?

The Royal Moroccan Academy in Rabat recently hosted a significant gathering of scholars from across Africa and beyond to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of the eminent Congolese thinker, Valentin Yves Mudimbe. This event underscored Mudimbe's profound influence on African intellectual discourse, particularly his groundbreaking work in deconstructing the colonial imposition of knowledge systems and their lingering effects on the continent's self-perception.

“

Mudimbe showed how Africa became the subject of scientific research, responding to which scientific aspirations, European and African...

Academics like Emmanuel Yaneuyizé from the University of Lubumbashi emphasized Mudimbe's role as a "non-insular thinker" and a "complex scientist" whose work transcended disciplinary boundaries. His critical examination of how Africa became an object of scientific inquiry, often serving European intellectual agendas, was a central theme. Mudimbe's analysis revealed the insidious ways in which colonial education systems promoted a linguistic hierarchy, marginalizing African languages in favor of European ones, thereby shaping new, imposed memories and facilitating subjugation.

Fellow scholar Amin Mertah from Cadi Ayyad University drew parallels between Mudimbe and Edward Said, highlighting their shared project of "demystifying social constructs." Both thinkers, Mertah argued, challenged the colonial gaze that created a negative "other" to justify material and intellectual domination. The conference participants recognized that Mudimbe's intellectual project, which sought to dismantle these hegemonic knowledge systems, remains critically relevant today. His work serves as a vital tool for understanding the persistent "colonizability" of Africa, even in the era of globalization, where external powers continue to seek control over the continent's resources and narratives, often with the complicity of local actors.

“

Mudimbe tore down the colonial veil, and his Africa, which he invented...

From a Moroccan perspective, this engagement with Mudimbe's thought is particularly resonant. Morocco, with its own complex history of external influences and its strategic position bridging Africa and Europe, understands the nuances of intellectual and cultural imposition. The conference served as a platform to reaffirm African agency in defining its own knowledge and narratives, pushing back against the lingering effects of colonial epistemology that continue to shape global perceptions and power dynamics. The discussions here in Rabat are not merely academic; they are a crucial part of the ongoing struggle for intellectual sovereignty and a more equitable representation of Africa on the world stage.

“

The 'savior' doctrine continues in 'international economic institutions' which continue to violate sovereignty, justify green colonialism and the exploitative logic of wealth...