On Africa and colonial discourse: rethinking how colonialism is understood over time
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Discussions about Africa and its development often begin with colonial narratives, which have shaped the way Africa is perceived and talked about. These narratives reinforce stereotypes and limit the recognition of Africa’s diverse intellectual traditions and cultural contributions. A key example is the ongoing debate about decolonization, where some argue for the importance of African knowledge production in global academia, while others question its relevance.
Rather than taking a side in this debate, this talk offers a new perspective by rethinking how colonialism is understood over time. It identifies two main ways in which colonialism is perceived:
1. As a series of historical events—distinct episodes that occurred in Africa’s past.
2. As a transformative process—one that has continuously reshaped African societies, ways of thinking, and worldviews.
By analysing these perspectives, this seminar moves beyond the usual polarized debates on decolonisation. Instead, it offers a more balanced approach that critically examines how colonialism and its effects are framed over time. In doing so, it seeks to open up space for new ways of thinking about Africa’s intellectual agency in the global academic landscape.
This event takes places in Leiden in person. For registrees who cannot travel to Leiden a link to an online platform will be sent one day before the start of the event.
Speaker
Muyiwa Falaiye, PhD., FNAL, is a Professor of African Philosophy/Studies at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. His research interests include African Studies, Political Philosophy, Philosophical Sagacity and Philosophy of Development. Prof. Falaiye has published extensively. Some of his publications include: Africa’s Political Stability: Ideas, Values and Questions, Ontario, Panaf Press (1999), African Spirit and Black Nationalism: A Discourse in African and African American Studies, Lagos, Foresight Press, (2003), Global Understanding in the Age of Terrorism, eds with Ayodeji Olukoju, Lagos, University of Lagos Press (2008), Sparks of Resistance, Flames of Change: Black Communities and Activism, eds with Sandra M Grayson, Foresight Press (2005), ‘Image of the Black Soul: From the Hut Near the Congo to the Banks of the Mississippi in Paul Lovejoy et.al eds Africa and its Diasporas: History, Memories and Literary Manifestations Trenton: Africa World Press, Trenton, New Jersey (2008) ‘Is African Studies Afraid of African Philosophy?’ in Toyin Falola and A. Afolayan eds: A Handbook of African Philosophy New York, Palgrave (2018) , Doctoral Training in Nigeria: Reengineering the Existing System for Sustainable Higher Education in Nigeria, with Moses Yakubu and Feyi Ademola-Adeoye, Routledge: Taylor Francis Group, London and New York (2022), Muyiwa Falaiye with Anthony Okeregbe ‘Women Sages in Male Epistemic Spaces-an Analysis of Patriarchal Forces in Female Knowledge Production’ in Katharina Schramm and Sabelo Ndlovu eds: Knowing and Unknowing : African Studies at Crossroads E.J Brill Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands (2024), and with Anthony Okeregbe, ‘Feminine Wisdom as a Resource for Facing Pandemics in Africa’ in Anna Chitando, Eunice Kamara and Ezra Chitando eds; Routledge Handbook of Contemporary African Women Routledge: Taylor Francis Group, London (2025)
Prof. Falaiye was Director, Confucius Institute, 2010-2013, Chair of Philosophy at the University of Lagos, 2013-2015 and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the same University, 2015-2019. He is currently the Director of Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the University of Lagos African Cluster Center (Lagos ACC), a Center of the Africa Multiple, Cluster of Excellence in African Studies, University of Bayreuth, Germany, and Prof. Falaiye is a Fellow the Nigerian Academy of Letters.
Date, time and location
02 October 2025
15:00 - 16:30
Herta Mohrgebouw / Faculty of Humanities, Witte Singel 27a, 2311 BG Leiden
Room 0.31
Registration
Posted on 19 March 2025, last modified on 19 March 2025