Reading Mudimbe as a Historian

Brenner, Louis

Abstract

This paper is less a critique of Prof. Mudimbe's work than an attempt to reflect on several themes in his writings in relationship to my own work as a historian of religion in Africa. The paper is divided into two sections. The first addresses what I consider to be the central problematic in Prof. Mudimbe's work: the exploration of the epistemological context that makes possible a particular discourse on Africa at a given time and place. The second part speculates on possible ways forward for an Africanist historian who wishes to engage with the problematic that Prof. Mudimbe has set.

Citation

Brenner, L. (2005). Reading Mudimbe as a Historian. Journal of African Cultural Studies, 17(1), 67-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/0090988052000344657

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2005
• Deposit Date: Oct 4, 2024
• Journal: Journal of African Cultural Studies
• Print ISSN: 1369-6815
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-9346
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 67-80
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0090988052000344657