Prof Vuyisile Msila (Director: Leadership in Higher Education, Change Management Unit, Unisa) with his latest book, Decolonising knowledge for Africa’s renewal

In 2015 and 2016, students in South Africa stood up to demand, not only a free education, but a decolonised, African-focused education. “The call for the decolonisation of knowledge is the ultimate call for freedom. It is the call for an African identity that affirms African values and beliefs and looks critically at Western hegemony,” said Prof Vuyisile Msila, at the launch of  his latest book, Decolonising knowledge for Africa’s renewal.

Featuring essays from some of the world’s leading minds on African perspectives, the book explores how to create a society that is devoid of colonialism and is ready for a renewed Africa. “This book highlights the practical steps that need to be taken to decolonise knowledge and ultimately achieve an African Renaissance,” explained Msila.

Gathering of strong voices

According to Msila, this book adds a few more voices to the current discussions that seek to increase the decolonisation epistemic debates. “We need to continue increasing the body of knowledge to untangle and comprehend many of these issues. This book has gathered strong voices who explicate philosophies and perspectives of decolonisation,” he said.

The book includes contributors from a wide range of academic institutions and expertise, locally and internationally, including Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, South Africa and the Unites States of America.

To get your copy please visit Exclusive Books branches or www.loot.co.za.

Praise for the book:

“Decolonising knowledge for Africa’s renewal is a beautiful thread in a reconstructive tapestry that patiently weaves passionate, practical, and scholarly strands that address the dehumanisation and erosion of African cultures. It is a timely resource for leaders, academics, practitioners and activists interested in Africa’s social and economic advancement.”—Reverend Vusi M Vilakati, Minister, Methodist Church of Southern Africa.

“Decolonising knowledge for Africa’s renewal is not an idle and luxurious yearning—it is an urgent clarion call. The cry from students to have decolonised education comes from a deep-seated and well-grounded fear that what they’re being taught may not provide the solutions to our pressing challenges.”—Prof Phinda Mziwakhe Madi, School of Management, University of Johannesburg and author of BEE: 20 years later.

“This book goes to the heart of 21^st century global justice struggles and shows the enormous responsibility African academics have in pursuing a complex dialogue and shaping the Pan-African world’s destiny on the terms of Pan-African peoples.”—Dr Steve Sharra, Academic and author, Catholic University of Malawi.

“Decolonising knowledge for Africa’s renewal is a timely and critical reflection on the undercurrents of the long-standing and recently renewed calls for the decolonisation of knowledge.”—Prof Siphamandla Zondi, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria.

Prof Vuyisile Msila is the Director, Leadership in Higher Education: Change Management Unit, Unisa, and former Head of the Institute for African Renaissance Studies. His recent books include Ubuntu: Shaping the current workplaces with (African) wisdom and Africanising the curriculum: Indigenous perspectives and critical theories. Msila is also a regular newspaper columnist for the Mail and Guardian, Sunday Independent and other Independent newspapers in South Africa.

*Compiled by Kirosha Naicker

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