African Social Scientists Reflections

As the 21st Century approached, there were various multi-faceted efforts geared towards a critical review of development in Africa. The spirit of this reflection was on Africa learning from the past, and seizing the opportunity to formulate a vision for self-development and self-determination, in the new millennium. In the spirit of Africa taking ownership and responsibility for her development, there was ambition and optimism expressed in the common question “can Africa claim the 21st Century?”

Some of the initiatives that addressed this question were the Millennium Renaissance Program, the Omega Plan and the emergence of the African Union. Africans took the onset of the new millennium seriously, and people from all walks of life including leaders, politicians and scholars reflected on the prospects for Africa in the 21st Century.

In line with this spirit, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Regional Office for the Horn of Africa, organized and supported a meeting in Addis Ababa in December 1999. The Foundation felt there was need to know what Africa was all about, how societies had developed and what kinds of social forces and institutions could build the Africa of the future, liberated from poverty and underdevelopment.

The “African Social Scientists Reflections” meeting, consisting of social scientists and politicians in Africa met to critically examine whether the social science heritage is of any relevance to the Africa of the 21st Century. This reflective thinking is closely linked to the modelling of the Foundation based on Heinrich Böll’s (whom the Foundation is named after) call to citizens to meddle in politics. Further, the Foundation strives to stimulate socio-political reform by acting as a forum for debate, both on fundamental issues and those of current interest.

The Foundation was glad to host and be part of the process of reflection, and hopes that the publications will serve to stimulate and enhance discussions in Africa, particularly among those who wanted to participate and were unable to, for various reasons.

Since all of the contributions were significant they are published in a series titled “Reflections”, as

  1. Part I Anthropology in Post-Independence Africa: End of an Era and the Redefinition, by Professor Archie Mafeje
  2. Part II Law, The Social Sciences and the Crisis of Relevance: A Personal Account, by Professor Dani Wadada Nabudere
  3. Part III The Study of African Politics: A Critical Appreciation of a Heritage, by Professor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
Product details
Publisher
Heinrich Böll Stiftung
Licence
Language of publication
English