**_The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge_** by V.Y. Mudimbe is a critical philosophical examination of how Africa has been conceptualized and constructed, both by Africans and non-Africans, within intellectual, literary, and colonial frameworks. The book explores the complex and often contradictory ways in which Africa has been "invented" through various forms of knowledge production, including philosophy, anthropology, and colonial discourse.

Mudimbe delves into the history of ideas surrounding Africa’s identity and the shaping of its intellectual and cultural image in the Western world, focusing on the interplay between colonialism, African self-representation, and European thought. He investigates the ways in which Africa has been both defined and marginalized within global systems of knowledge, addressing the role of "gnosis" (knowledge) and the philosophical traditions that have shaped understandings of African being and existence.

Central to Mudimbe's thesis is the argument that the construction of Africa as a continent and its people as subjects of knowledge is not a neutral or objective process. Rather, it is a result of historical, political, and cultural struggles—struggles over who defines knowledge, who has the authority to represent Africa, and who benefits from these representations. The book examines how various intellectuals, from Edward Blyden to Jean-Paul Sartre, from the philosopher Placide Tempels to Léopold Sédar Senghor, have contributed to this ongoing project of the "invention" of Africa, either as a place of mystery and backwardness or as a site of unique cultural and philosophical wisdom.

Mudimbe also explores African responses to these intellectual constructions, highlighting the work of African philosophers, writers, and thinkers who seek to reclaim and redefine Africa's identity outside of the colonial and Western frameworks. He is particularly concerned with how African scholars engage with Western philosophy and knowledge systems, questioning their validity and the power structures that underlie them.

By examining the intersections of African thought, colonialism, and the intellectual history of Europe, Mudimbe provides a nuanced understanding of how the idea of Africa has been created and transformed over time. **_The Invention of Africa_** offers a sophisticated critique of the colonial legacy and its continuing impact on the way Africa is perceived, studied, and represented in both Western and African intellectual traditions. The book is a foundational text for anyone interested in postcolonial theory, African philosophy, and the politics of knowledge.

 

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Indiana University Press; First Edition (May 22, 1988)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0253204682
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0253204684
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
• Condition: Used-Very Good

 

General Anthropology, Modern Western Philosophy, Social Sciences, African Philosophy, Afro-Centrism,