Academic Freedom Discourse in Post-Colonial Africa: A Quest for Transformation and Appropriation of Relevant Knowledge in Higher Education

Abstract

This article argues that in post-apartheid South Africa, the discourse on academic
freedom is conjoined with the African experiences of apartheid and colonialism. The majority of black academics see academic freedom as an opportunity for the total emancipation of the African university from the vestiges of colonialism and apartheid. A symbiotic relationship
exists between colonialism and Eurocentric knowledge. The main argument is that it
is imperative that transformation is on the basis of the quality of knowledge that is disseminated at African universities. However, it is also argued that those who
are against transformation at African universities have appealed to academic
freedom to imply that their inherited colonial privileges should never be tampered with.

Africa Insight Vol. 38 (2) 2008: pp. 101-114