The idea of the African university in the twenty-first century: Some reflections on Afrocentrism and Afroscepticism

Abstract

The idea of `the African university' is usually accompanied by an emphasis on
Africanisation of education, and of knowledge, on changing the demographic
profile of student, staff and administrative bodies, educational syllabi and curricula,
and the criteria for research activity and for throughput. The idea of `Africanising'
universities is frequently couched within a conception that is explicitly `Afrocentric'.
On the other end of the spectrum, doubts about the idea of `Africanising'
universities frequently give rise to a kind of `Afroscepticism'. The net result has been
a dialogical impasse between these two positions, each accusing the other of racial
hegemonism. The valuable insights that characterise these different views need to
be taken into account in order to arrive at a balanced perspective regarding African
higher education in the twenty first century. Ultimately, however, neither Afrocentrism
nor Afroscepticism provide a compelling framework for transformation of
tertiary education. My own position, while rather critical of the Afrocentric project
and of the idea of `the' African university, stops short of a thoroughgoing
scepticism. It is informed both by what might be called `Afrorealism' and the
cautious hope that Africa and her universities will flourish in the twenty first century,
whether in spite or because of globalisation.

South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 20(4) 2006: pp.449-465