Resurrecting the Black Archive through the decolonisation of philosophy in South Africa. Issue 1 (3rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumalo, Siseko H
• Is Part Of: Third world thematics. Volume 5:Issue 1/2(2020)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2020-03-03
• Subjects: Black Archive -- epistemicide -- linguicide -- Gqoba -- Mqhayi -- curricula; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 338.90091724
• DOI: 10.1080/23802014.2020.1798276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2379-9978

Abstract

ABSTRACT: While acknowledging the impact of colonial imposition and violence, in this paper, I challenge the notions of epistemicide and linguicide in South Africa as claimed by some decolonial scholars. Using the Black Archive by drawing from S.E.K. Mqhayi's historical accounts, I argue that to claim linguicide and by extension epistemicide, only perpetuates the erasure of profound Indigenous thinkers such as S.E.K. Mqhayi and W.W. Gqoba. My second move is to showcase how the Black Archive can be used to substantively engage the ontologies of Blackness/Indigeneity in the contemporary university. This move resurrects the Black Archive while constituting the decolonial mission; teaching from a pedagogical predisposition that is locally responsive while simultaneously being globally relevant. I submit that this framework works towards epistemic restitution.