Exam (elaborations)
ICH4801 Assignment 2 2024 (322543) - DUE 21 June 2024
- Course
- ICH4801 (ICH4801)
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
ICH4801 Assignment 2 2024 (322543) - DUE 21 June 2024 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
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ICH4801ASSIGNMENT 2 2024
(322543) - DUE 21
JUNE 2024
[Company address]
,ICH4801 Assignment 2 2024 (322543) - DUE 21 June 2024
Question 1 [40 marks]
Question 1(a) (20 marks) – compulsory 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 20 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. (2)
2. How does Maldonado-Torres explain the concept of coloniality? (2)
3. Explain the difference between colonialism and coloniality. (2)
4. Sketch the sociohistorical background of colonialism and coloniality in the South African context. (4)
5. Do you agree with the colonial policies that were implemented by European powers? Substantiate your
answer. (4)
6. How does the legacy of apartheid remain a structural element in postcolonial South Africa? (6) [20]
ICH4801/101/02024 21
1. Define “colonialism” in your own words. (2)
Colonialism refers to the practice where a foreign power establishes control over another country, exploiting it
economically, politically, and culturally. This domination often involves settling in the colonized country,
imposing the colonizer's culture and systems, and maintaining power through various forms of oppression and
suppression of the local population's autonomy.
2. How does Maldonado-Torres explain the concept of coloniality? (2)
Maldonado-Torres explains coloniality as the enduring patterns of power, culture, and social relations that
persist even after the end of formal colonial rule. It refers to the institutionalized practices and ways of thinking
that continue to perpetuate the hierarchical structures and cultural dominance established during the colonial
period.
3. Explain the difference between colonialism and coloniality. (2)
The difference between colonialism and coloniality lies in their scope and persistence. Colonialism refers to the
direct political and economic control exerted by a foreign power over a colonized region. In contrast, coloniality
refers to the lasting legacy and ongoing effects of colonialism, including the entrenched cultural, social, and
epistemological dominance that continues to shape the post-colonial societies long after formal colonial rule has
ended.
4. Sketch the sociohistorical background of colonialism and coloniality in the South African context. (4)
In the South African context, colonialism began with the arrival of the Dutch East India Company in 1652,
followed by British colonization in the 19th century. These colonial powers imposed their economic systems,
culture, and governance structures, leading to the exploitation and marginalization of the indigenous
populations. The implementation of apartheid in 1948 by the National Party institutionalized racial segregation
and discrimination, exacerbating the socio-economic and political inequalities established during colonial rule.
Even after the end of apartheid in 1994, the legacy of colonialism and apartheid persists in South Africa through
structural inequalities, economic disparities, and ongoing social and racial tensions, reflecting the concept of
coloniality.
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