, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE TO ANSWER YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Please note that the author of this document will not responsibility for any plagiarizing you
commit.
Question 1A
Read the extract titled, “Colonialism, coloniality and post-colonial Africa: a conceptual
framework”, from chapter 7 of the prescribed book (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter 2020) and then
answer the questions that follows.
Colonialism, coloniality and post-colonial Africa: a conceptual framework
Post-colonial reconstruction of African societies cannot be limited to political and economic
transformation. Due to the predominance of Western epistemologies and systems of education
during and after colonialism, the African masses often became oblivious to their forgotten history.
Western European colonial policies such as ‘assimilation’ (French) and ‘assimilados’ (Portuguese)
were based on a rejection of the local culture and an adoption of a foreign, European culture –
essentially a denial of an African identity. The African elite that worked in close collaboration with
the colonial administration often became the main protagonists of European culture. When a few
African leaders met in Addis Ababa in 1963 to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU),
the objective was to liberate the continent from colonialism and apartheid. While apartheid was
abolished in 1994, African countries remained largely dependent on foreign aid which
compromised their political and economic independence. Without achieving its objectives, the
OAU was dissolved in July 2002 and transformed into the African Union (AU), which aimed to
unite its fifty-three member-states politically, socially and economically. The AU intended to
address the old African problems afresh through the promotion of democracy, good governance
and foreign investment (Carbone, 2002). For a long time, Africa seems to have been suffering
from the aftermath of colonialism, which has posed serious challenges to its economic development
and independence. The colonial legacy left behind structural inequalities that were
difficult to eradicate. However, Smith argues that ‘there can be no social justice without cognitive
justice’ and calls for an ecology of knowledge(s) that enables alternative ways of knowing and
scientific knowledge to co-exist (Smith, 2012:214). The inspiration of an African Renaissance,
which is mainly about cultural and intellectual revitalisation, should become an integral part of
transforming and reconstructing the socio-economic landscape of Africa. Therefore, the
restoration of Africa’s intellectual and cultural history needs to be at the centre of political and
economic reconstruction and should not be treated in isolation.
A common observation in previously colonised societies during the post-colonial period is the
patronising continuation of colonial myths and stereotypes that represent the culture of the
colonised as inferior (Alvares, 1991). Colonial powers regarded Asian and African people as
belonging to ‘backward’ or ‘child races’, who were inherently inferior because of their skin colour
and perceived immorality, laziness, as well as a disregard for the sacredness of human life (Kies,
1953). These stereotypes became an integral part of the colonial educational systems. To maintain
the political and social dominance of the colonisers, the real history of colonies was suppressed
and replaced with the history of the coloniser, which was alienating to the local populations. The
continuation of a colonial worldview and lifestyle after achieving political independence became a
defining characteristic of post-colonial Africa, which had to be confronted.
, Conceptually, Maldonado-Torres (2007) explains the irony of colonial continuity by drawing a
distinction between ‘colonialism’ and ‘coloniality’. Colonialism designates political and economic
relations in which the power of a people rests on a foreign colonial/ imperial power, while coloniality
refers to institutionalised colonialism, i.e. colonial practices, expressed in a longstanding pattern
of culture, social relations and knowledge production (Maldonado-Torres, 2007). This duality
between colonialism and coloniality has previously been addressed by Mignolo (1999) who sees
the imaginary of the modern/ colonial world as a function of ‘colonial difference’ that operates on
a notion of a ‘coloniality of power’. Mignolo borrows the concept ‘double consciousness’ from WEB
du Bois, which captures the dilemma of subjectivities formed within the colonial difference, i.e. the
experience of anyone who has lived and lives modernity from coloniality (Mignolo & Ennis,
1999:29–30). Double consciousness becomes a crucial concept in explaining the ambivalence
and tendencies of liberated Africans towards colonialism.
1. Define “colonialism” in your own words.
Colonialism can be defined as a system of political and economic relations in which a foreign power
exerts control over a nation or territory, exploiting its resources and imposing its own political and
cultural systems. This often involves the establishment of colonies and the subjugation of indigenous
populations for the benefit of the colonizing power. Colonialism is characterized by the imposition of
the colonizer's values, institutions, and practices on the colonized society, often resulting in the
suppression of local culture and history.
(Page 124)
2. How does Maldonado-Torres explain the concept of coloniality?
Maldonado-Torres explains the concept of coloniality by drawing a distinction between
"colonialism" and "coloniality." Colonialism refers to the political and economic relations in which
the power of a people rests on a foreign colonial/imperial power. On the other hand, coloniality
refers to institutionalized colonialism, which is expressed in a longstanding pattern of culture, social
relations, and knowledge production. In essence, coloniality represents the enduring impact of
colonial practices on various aspects of society, including culture, social structures, and the
production of knowledge.
(Page 124)
3. Explain the difference between colonialism and coloniality.
The difference between colonialism and coloniality lies in their scope and nature. Colonialism refers
to the direct political and economic relations in which a foreign power exerts control over a nation or
territory. It involves the establishment of colonies and the subjugation of indigenous populations for
the benefit of the colonizing power. On the other hand, coloniality refers to the enduring impact of
colonial practices on various aspects of society, including culture, social relations, and knowledge
production. It represents the institutionalized and long-lasting patterns of colonialism, which
continue to influence social structures and cultural norms even after the formal end of colonial rule.
Coloniality encompasses the ongoing legacy and influence of colonialism on societies and their
systems.
(Page 125)
