A mention of his name today quickly reminds one of the concept afrocentricity. However, advocacy of critical approaches, which finds one expression through multiculturalism, has failed to recognize the changing nature of a diverse society until the development of afrocentricity. Molefi kete asante published 42009 afrocentricity is a paradigm based on the idea that african people should reassert a sense of agency in order to achieve sanity. Dubois and his contemporaries, asante provides a brilliant steppingstone, just scraping the surface for the uninitiated beginner, into this compelling branch of thought. Afrocentrism also afrocentricity is an approach to the study of world history that focuses on the history of people of recent african descent. Molefi kete asante s new book, the african pyramids of. African pyramids of knowledge represents a synthesis of asantes most powerful arguments for the overturn of a eurocentric consciousness that prevents african people from exercising their own agency based on their fundamental cultural values. Afrocentrism, also called africentrism, cultural and political movement whose mainly african american adherents regard themselves and all other blacks as syncretic africans and believe that their worldview should positively reflect traditional african values.
On the rhetoric of afrocentricity by strotherjordan. Information and translations of afrocentrism in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Asante takes aim at not only the dehumanizing legacy of the racist policy of apartheid, but also what he calls internalized inferiority on the part of many african leaders. Asante was first to operationalize or defined the meaning of afrocentricity 5. As the father and esteemed theorist of afrocentricity, molefi kete asante is indeed a living legend in the communication and africana studies disciplines. Molefi kete asante is a professor at temple university who is well known for his works based on afrocentricity, a cultural ideology that focuses on the history of black africans and that rejects eurocentric and orientalist attitudes about african people. Its method is afrocentric and pan african, participating at the national and international levels in the creation of an advanced cadre of individuals whose aim is to bring into existence an. Discussed in this crossdisciplinary work is the theory of afrocentricity, which mandates that africans be viewed as subjects rather than objects and is driven by the question. Originating in the late 19th century through the work of w. Molefi kete asante has 78 books on goodreads with 6360 ratings.
The afrocentric idea is essentially about location. The roots of afrocentrism lay in a reaction to the repression of black people throughout the. A professor of african american studies at temple university, asantes academic record reflects a rich array of intellectual achievements and insights expressed in over 60 books, 26 book chapters, 100 plus scholarly arti. Like his previous works, this is a profound statement of the afrocentric perspective. Context and theory molefi kete asante and the afrocentric idea afrocentricity definition afrocentricity materialized as a theory of knowledge in 1980 under molefi kete asantes philosophical thinking while also posing a systematic challenge to western epistemology. Department of pan african studies california state university dr. This book, along with the afrocentric idea asante, 1987 and kemet, afrocentricity and knowledge asante, 1990, introduced fundamental referential changes in the african community. He is the author of more than 70 books, including as i run toward africa, a memoir. Molefi asantes groundbreaking text the afrocentric idea offers an honest critique of the power structures behind the rhetorical foundation of how americans view race and ethnic tradition. Although the word existed before asante s book and had been used by many people, including asante in the l970s, and kwame nkrumah in the l960s, the intellectual idea. The terms afrocentrism, afrocology, and afrocentricity were coined in the 1980s by the african american scholar and. Asante has published 78 seventyeight books, including the comprehensive the history of africa. By some account, he has published thirtysix books, and over a hundred articles, on the subject.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. To be a true afrocentric in asantes view, i have to give up islam. In asantes 1990 book sertima was not listed in the index, and i do not recall asante ever using any of sertimas work in this book. Afrocentricity international supports the economic, cultural and educational elevation of african people in an effort to create cultural consciousness. Afrocentricity is consequently an innovative understanding of phenomena from the standpoint of african people as agents. It is in some respects a response to global eurocentric attitudes about african people and their historical contributions.
So long as we are afraid of afrocentricity, even as a word, we will be unable to break the chains of alien cultures that still crush our legs, necks, and brains. Afrocentrism, afrocentricity, or africentrism is a world view that emphasizes the importance of african people, taken as a single group and often equated with black people, in culture, philosophy, and history. During the l960s a group of african american intellectuals in the newlyformed black studies departments at universities began to formulate novel ways of analyzing information. Afrocentricity answers this question by asserting the central role of the african subject within the context of african history, thereby removing europe from the center of. Afrocentricity goodreads meet your next favorite book. Afrocentricity deals primarily with selfdetermination and african agency and is a panafrican ideology in.
The central topic of this crossdisciplinary work is the theory of afrocentricity, which mandates that africans be viewed as subjects rather than objects. Professor, founder, and author molefi kete asante was born on august 14, 1942 in valdosta, georgia to arthur lee and lillie b. The mission of afrocentricity international featured. Afrocentric definition and meaning collins english. He is the author of more than 66 books and the founding editor of the journal of black studies.
During the l960s a group of african american intellectuals in the newlyformed black studies departments at universities. An afrocentric manifesto completes asantes quartet on afrocentric theory. Books by molefi kete asante author of afrocentricity. Afrocentricity refers to the intellectual work of a group of african philosophers, historians, and sociologists during the late twentieth century with varying degrees of attachment to the central idea that the key crisis in the african world is the profoundly disturbing decentering of african people from a subject position within their own narrative. If anyone is interested here are some references for both work on afrocentricity and african origins of civilization. Because africans have been moved off of our own cultural and historical terms, decentered by the conditions of oppression, it is important that any assessment of the african condition or analysis of african phenomena be made afrocentrically we begin with the view that afrocentricity is a quality of thought, perspective. Traces of afrocentricity in the lion and the jewel and the road by wole soyinka by sara zargar, m. This book looks at how this philosophy, ethos, and worldview gives africans a better understanding of how to interpret issues affecting their communities. He has written more than 550 articles and essays for journals, books and magazines and is the founder of the theory of afrocentricity. Although the word existed before asante s book and had been used by many people, including asante in the l970s, and kwame nkrumah in the l960s, the intellectual idea did not have substance as a philosophical. The afrocentric idea and the cultural turn in intercultural communication studies. Thus, this book engages the major critiques of afrocentricity, defends the necessity for african people to view themselves as agents instead of as objects on the fringes of europe, and proposes a more democratic framework for human relationships. Afrocentricity molefi kete asante professor and chair, department of african american studies, temple university, usa what is it.
The central topic of this crossdisciplinary work is the theory of a. Truly asante is worthy of being the top contemporary writer in afrocentricity. Molefi kete asantes most popular book is afrocentricity. Among the key concepts are agency, location, place, centeredness, and. For our purposes, well go with the understanding of afrocentricity described intwo books written by temple university professor, dr. Afrocentricity definition of afrocentricity by medical. Afrocentricity is a paradigm based on the idea that african people should reassert a sense of agency in order to achieve sanity. He is a leading figure in the fields of african american studies, african studies and communication studies. Molefi kete asantes afrocentric philosophy has become one of the most persistent influences in the social sciences and humanities over the past three decades.
The theory of social change paperback september 1, 2003 by molefi kete asante author visit amazons molefi kete asante page. I read asantes texts with an eye to the kind of intellectual claims afrocentrism would require of me as an african muslim. Traces of afrocentricity in the lion and and the road. It strives to create new forms of discourse about africa and the african diaspora, impact on education through expanding curricula to be more inclusive, change the language of social institutions to. Understanding afrocentricity as a social science methodology by marquita pellerin, ph. Afrocentrism cultural and political movement britannica.
Afrocentrism, as molefi asante conceives of it, challenges the eurocentric position. It has been 20 years since molefi asante 1980 published afrocentricity. Afrocentricity was created with the 1980 publication of asantes book 3. Asante is known for his writings on afrocentricity, a school of thought that has influenced the fields of sociology, intercultural communication, critical theory, political science, the history of africa, and social work. Afrocentricity is an intellectual paradigm that privileges the centricity of africans within the context of their own historical experiences. The theory of social change chicago, peoples publishing group, 2001, p. Asante, formerly chair of the department of african american studies, temple university, in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Asante, afrocentricity means, placing african ideals at the center of any analysis that involves african culture and behavior. Asante has had an international impact with his work. The longevity of his career is the epitome of what constitutes a true scholar. Molefi kete asante, the afrocentric idea, and afrocentricity. He further stated that afrocentricity is an exercise in knowledge and a new historical perspective. This weeks conversation is with molefi kete asante, a professor of africanamerican studies at temple university, known for his pioneering work in the area of afrocentricity. Will the real father of afrocentricity please stand.