Four concepts of Africa
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Four concepts of Africa | |
| Creator | Fourie, Willem | |
| Description | What makes the words ‘Africa’ and ‘African’ possible and useful? In this article it is argued that at least four internally coherent concepts of Africa exist, and that none of these concepts are ethically neutral. The article is presented as a contribution to attempts at using the term ‘Africa’ in self-critical, reflexive and constructive ways. It could therefore be of interest to all researchers, particularly those in the humanities and theology, who locate their research within the context of ‘Africa’. It is argued that Africa can be conceived of as a place, a commodity, a condition and an ideal. By drawing on mostly primary sources it is shown that the term ‘Africa’ only relatively recently came to refer to a continent, that Africa as a place and Africa as a condition in need of betterment formed the foundation for its commodification, and that Africa only very recently became a self-description of the people who live on the continent of Africa. Each of these concepts of Africa is shown to be based on a particular logic with both strengths and weaknesses. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2015-05-12 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/hts.v71i3.2847 | |
| Source | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies; Vol 71, No 3 (2015); 10 pages 2072-8050 0259-9422 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/2847/5659
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/2847/5660
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/2847/5661
https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/2847/5538
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
