Colonialism shaped modern universities in Africa – how they can become truly African

By Saleem Badat, Research Professor, UFS History Department, University of the Free State

Colonialism profoundly shaped modern universities in Africa. It implanted institutions on African soil that were largely replicas of European universities rather than organically African.

For historian and political theorist Achille Mbembe, one problem of universities in Africa “is that they are ‘Westernised”. He describes them as “local institutions of a dominant academic model based on a Eurocentric epistemic canon that attributes truth only to the Western way of knowledge production”. This…

Read complete article

~	There is no ‘right’ age to land a job, meet a partner or buy a house — here’s why it feels like there is

~	Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern: how a radical artist became a global icon

~	A new quantum computer sets a high watermark for accuracy – are we on the verge of a big breakthrough?

~	The cost of living is soaring – why not try moving in together?

~	The Islamic legacy built into Gaudí’s most famous designs

~	Can wiggling your pinky really stop cognitive decline?

~	Climate warnings need to be told in tangible ways to prevent disaster

~	Coming out on TV in 1970 could have ruined your life – so why did activists do it?

~	ASIO chief reveals former Australian resident directed attack on Melbourne synagogue

~	Type 2 diabetes patients often have high blood sugar while fasting – here’s why