Interesting observations Mr. Kamara. Indeed, history has been described by many scholars, especially of the postmodern school, as little more than a discourse crafted by historians. The debate over whether history is a true representation of the past or merely the subjective handiwork of opinionated scholars continues. It is true indeed that western historicity, or western claims to universality have now been totally discredited. This notwithstanding, there is a very strong case to be made for post-colonial African leaders' failure to move from a preoccupation with questions over the metaphysics of colonial power and control, to answers for the questions that faced African nations after the formal end of colonialism. Great that some of us are engaged in the continuing interrogation of these issues. Thanks for the feedback.
Warm regards,
Baba
> Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:08:57 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Independence? What Independence?
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Interesting article, not only in its attempt to set light on the lost dream of self-government but also the ambivalent position of the African intellectual and the making of history, hence it is he who writes history that has one. The collective experience of colonialism has effected the life of the educated and the uneducated differently.
>
> The history of historiography is a history of the language of historians, which makes it more an archaeology of discourse rather than a literal truth. There are key historical points of departure and references in the European historicity which are not shared by Africa, for example the French Revolution and the birth of the concept of freedom, brotherhood and equality, the enlightenment and the end of the dominant Christian dualistic philosophy.
>
> How do I as an African reader relate to this historical perspective, do I understand this particular history as a literal truth or as an extension of a colonial discourse, hence the language and the historical perspective have no reference in the history of Africa.
>
> In my opinion history is language; the history of my language is my way of being in the world, in other words the sense of continuity is what constitutes the reference to both the pass and the feature. Therefore the history of independence does not represent a continuity of my history but rather a discontinuity.
>
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