Valentin-Yves Mudimbe, a prominent Congolese-American philosopher and author, passed away at the age of 83. As an emeritus professor at Duke University, Mudimbe's work fundamentally questioned Western narratives about Africa, particularly in his seminal 1988 book, The Invention of Africa. This text critically examines 19th and 20th-century European accounts that he felt perpetuated colonialism. By dissecting these perceptions, Mudimbe aimed to foster a deeper understanding of Africa that acknowledges its complexities, thereby contributing significantly to post-colonial studies and African intellectual thought.
His landmark 1988 book, The Invention of Africa, deconstructs what he called the colonial library: the 19th- and 20th-century accounts of Africa by various European figures.
Mr. Mudimbe's ambition was to call into question the basis for European understanding of Africa, challenging the intellectual tools that perpetuated colonialism.
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