Articles · Vol. 33 No. 4 (2008): Africa Development: Special Issue Public Sector Reforms in Africa

Archie Mafeje and the Pursuit of Endogeny: Against Alterity and Extroversion

  • Jimi O. Adesina
    Jimi O. Adesina
    Professor of Sociology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown-iRhini, South Africa. E-mail: J.Adesina@ru.ac.za
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Vol. 33 · 2008 No. 4 Africa Development: Special Issue Public Sector Reforms in Africa AD

Abstract

Professor Archibald Monwabisi Mafeje passed away on 28 March 2007. The meaning of Archie Mafeje, for three generations of African scholars and social scientists, is profound and about diverse encounters. For some it was personal; for others it was through his works, and for most in the community the encounter via scholarly works became personal and intimate. The meaning of Mafeje for generations of African scholars is found in his uncompromising aversion to the ‘epistemology of alterity’ – the ‘othering’ of Africa and Africans – and the ad- vancement of scholarship grounded in the centring of African ontological expe- riences. It is in this aversion to alterity and pursuit of endogeneity that we locate Mafeje’s lasting legacy for new generations of African intellectuals. This paper, which is personal and intellectual, involves a close and critical engagement with these aspects of Mafeje’s scholarships.

 

Archie Mafeje and the Pursuit of Endogeny: Against Alterity and Extroversion

Le professeur Archibald Monwabisi Mafeje est décédé le 28 mars 2007. Le sens d’Archie Mafeje pour trois générations d’universitaires africains et de spécialistes en sciences sociales est profond et porte sur trois différentes sortes de con- tacts. Pour certains, c’était personnel, pour d’autres, c’était à travers ses œuvres, et pour la plupart de la communauté la rencontre à travers les œuvres universitaires, c’était devenu personnel et intime. Le sens de Mafeje pour des générations d’universitaires africains se trouve dans son aversion intransigeante à l’encontre de l’«épistémologie de l’altérité», l’«altérité» de l’Afrique et des Africains, et le développement de la recherche fondée sur le centrage des expériences ontologiques africaines. C’est dans cette aversion pour l’altérité et la poursuite de l’endogénéité que nous situons la contribution durable de Mafeje pour les nouvelles générations d’intellectuels africains. Cet article, qui est personnel et intellectuel, inclut un engagement étroit et critique avec ces aspects des recherches de Mafeje.

Jimi O. Adesina, Professor of Sociology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown-iRhini, South Africa. E-mail: J.Adesina@ru.ac.za

Keywords

Archie Mafeje scholars endogeneity alterity

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Author Biography

  • Jimi O. Adesina

    Professor of Sociology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown-iRhini, South Africa. E-mail: J.Adesina@ru.ac.za

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