Afterword

Abstract

It is timely that the “intelligentsia”² of Africa progresses the Renaissance agenda for Africa, by interrogating the emerging dynamics brought about by our diversity as Africans both living on the continent and the diaspora. It is more appropriate that it is Africans initiating and taking the lead in asking these questions, as Africans and for Africa(ns). This is still a refreshing new encounter for Africa, which has predominately being pocked at and probed by Western studies which have not been intended for Africa(ns) but rather Westerners themselves, with the unfortunate consequence of stereotyped responses to Africa(ns). Thus the inspiration of this book is not just in the concepts and ideas it is propagating to and for Africans by Africans who write from an African standpoint but also, its epistemic repossession, theoretical rearticulation and the locating of Africans within their symbolic and pragmatic world. This promises a new paradigm of how Africa and Africans can perceive themselves, and revolutionize how they have been viewed by the rest of the world.

The stereotypes of poverty and strife have over-shadowed the profile of Africa as a rich cornucopia of diversity and simplicity. Herein lies the dilemma of Africa, that is, its diversity and simplicity are both its blessing and vulnerability Dr Goodwill Shana¹