Arguably, the most prolific of these scholars came from the universities of ibadan and dar es salaam in the 1950s and 1960s. A reading of the literature reveals two approaches, each conceptualizing the roles and place of chiefs in. Until the late colonial period, it was widely believed among western historians that africa, south of the sahara, had no civilization and thus no history. This is something that has distinguished us from other species. African historiography and the challenges of european. View colonial historiography research papers on academia. Although african historiography has been in existence for only a short time, it is already rich. The tortuous history of colonial representations unfolded in a field of power. Although african historiography has been in existence for only a short time, it is already rich and diverse.
Something seen as extremely necessary to african nations in the postcolonial period, which was emerging in africa. This was evident in the rewriting of colonial african history. These historians refocused colonial historiography away from european personalities and achievements toward an african centred approach. African historiography in africa cairn international. Africa in france and to leave behind colonial historiography. Social action in colonial and postcolonial africa cannot be reduced to such. Problems and potential albert grundlingh social history, together with offshoots such as history from below and alltagsgeschichte, has, as a result of the work of a variety of practitioners in britain, europe and america. Historiography since very early times, human beings have had some sense of the past, both their own and that of their community or people. This paper offers an historiographical assessment of the colonial and postcolonial transformation of the institution of chieftaincy in africa. Ogot since the later 19th century, the study ofafrican history has undergone radical changes. The base for colonial history writings was laid in the 18th and 19th century in the tradition of the western historiography. Colonial history arrived with the discovery and colonization of africa and involved the study of. From colonial historiography to unescos general history ofafrica bethwell a. Although african historiography has been in existence for only a short time, it is already.
From about 1885 to the end of the second world war, most of africa was under the yoke of colonialism. Pdf the colonial and postcolonial transformation of. However, due to time constraints and inadequate knowledge, we will restrict ourselves here to historical literature published in french and english, especially in west africa. An analysis of international factors and actors marring african socioeconomic and political development. The study of african history as an independent and autonomous focus of scholarship is a recent development. Having said that, historiography in the narrower sense of intentional attempts to recover knowl. The africans consider the impact of colonization on them to be perhaps the most important factor in understanding the present condition of the african continent and of the african. From colonial historiography to unescos general history of africa. The african perspective in the general history of africa unesco. Historiography and methods of african history african.
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