The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge

. . . groundbreaking . . . clear, straightforward, and economical. . . . seminal . . . --American AnthropologistThis is a challenging book . . . a remarkable contribution to African intellectual history. --International Journal of African Historical StudiesMudimbe's description of the struggles over Africa's self-invention are vivid and rewarding. From Blyden to Sartre, Temples to Senghor, Mudimbe provides a bold and versatile resume of Africa's literary inventors. --Village Voice Literary Supplement . . . a landmark achievement in African studies. --Journal of Religion in AfricaIn this unique and provocative book, Zairean philosopher and writer V. Y. Mudimbe addresses the multiple scholarly discourses that exist--African and non-African--concerning the meaning of Africa and being African.