Discover 'The Scent of the Father,' a profound exploration by acclaimed Congolese philosopher Valentin-Yves Mudimbe. This essential postcolonial text delves into the intricate relationships between Africa and the West, revealing how colonial legacies continue to shape knowledge and thought practices in the social sciences. Mudimbe, renowned for his influential works since the 1970s, invites readers to critically assess how Western concepts infiltrate African thought, urging a deeper understanding of the myths and narratives that bind African identity to colonial history.

In 'The Scent of the Father,' readers will uncover essential insights into decolonization and the rethinking of African identity in a post-colonial context. Mudimbe stresses the importance of awareness in shedding the colonial mindset, empowering African intellectual discourse, and reshaping the African psyche strained by historical violence. This groundbreaking work is not just a book; it’s a philosophical journey through the realms of identity, heritage, and socio-political dynamics.

Perfect for scholars, students, and readers passionate about postcolonial studies, African philosophy, and social science. This brand new edition from John Wiley & Sons (UK) is a must-have addition to any academic or personal library.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled..

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781509551385
Year: 2023
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)


Description:


Valentin-Yves Mudimbe is a Congolese philosopher, novelist, poet, essayist, and academic, widely considered to be one of the most important African thinkers of his generation. The ideas and arguments he has developed in his writings since the 1970s, including The Invention of Africa, have been hugely influential across many disciplines and established his reputation as one of the essential postcolonial thinkers of our time.

In The Scent of the Father, Mudimbe set himself the task of shedding light on the complex links that bind Africa to the West and determine the exercise of thought and knowledge practices, particularly in relation to the social sciences. For Africa to escape the West, says Mudimbe, it must become aware of what remains Western in the very concepts and forms of thought that allow it to think against the West, and be alert to the possibility that the recourse against the West might be just another ruse that the West uses for its own ends. Africa must elucidate the modalities of the integration of Africans into the myths of the West, while at the same time aiming at the readaptation of the African psyche in the wake of the violence it has suffered.

 

This seminal work by a leading African thinker will be of great interest to anyone concerned with the legacies of colonialism and the debates on decolonization and decoloniality in the social and human sciences.