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- Convenors:
-
Winnie Kanyimba
(University of Basel)
Matthias Maurer Rueda (University of Basel)
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- Format:
- Panel
- Stream:
- Linguistic and visual (de)colonialisms
- Location:
- Room 1098
- Sessions:
- Friday 10 June, -
Time zone: Europe/Berlin
Short Abstract:
This panel makes use of concepts that shaped the histories, politics, cultures and languages of Africa, by applying them to Europe. As such, it focuses on the ways in which those concepts can be translated to study phenomena such as citizenship, nationalism and identity in Europe.
Long Abstract:
What happens to concepts if we move them across time and space? In our research we focus on mid-level concepts that were developed to explain social crisis phenomena in Africa, and applying them to contemporary Europe. Our working concept is that of Retribalization, developed during colonial rule to explain the persistence of ‘primordial’ and ‘tribal’ identities of rural-urban migrants. We apply this concept on Switzerland to explain Swiss relations vis-à-vis the European Union. As such, our work will focus on the ways in which colonial concepts developed in Africa can be translated to study phenomena such as citizenship, nationalism and identity in Europe. Translating concepts in such a manner inevitably raises questions on the untranslatability and limits of concepts which we would like to explore in this panel. We believe the contributions of this discussion are three-fold. On the one hand, we hope that by ‘reversing the gaze’ through the application of a concept developed for Africa onto Europe, new insights about Swiss society can be generated which conventional social scientific approaches missed so far. On the other hand, there are important lessons to be learned about the nature of concepts and translation which are highly relevant for addressing some of the key issues in area studies. Lastly, and most importantly in our eyes, the addition of concepts from outside the traditional western sphere into scientific vocabulary is an important step to reduce the epistemic hierarchy that persists between Africa and Europe.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Friday 10 June, 2022, -Matthias Maurer Rueda (University of Basel)
Paper short abstract:
Through a keyword-analysis of the concept of 'retribalization', this paper sheds light on socio-political foundations of knowledge production. By highlighting how one concept can be imbued with many meanings, ways to overcome epistemic hierarchies in social sciences can be explored.
Paper long abstract:
In the 1960's, Western scholars concerned with Africa faced a conundrum. Why was it that, against expectations, local social identities in newly established African nation states remained relevant, rather than being replaced with more 'modern' or 'western' identities such as worker, urbanite, or citizen?
Social scientists coined the term 'retribalization' to explain the phenomenon. A term steeped in problematic assumptions, intricately linked to the broader epistemic project of maintaining western supremacy, and often used to explain African inability to modernize.
Later, the term was appropriated by African scholars and political leaders, framing retribalization not as a consequence of 'African' being, but as a deliberate strategy by western minority elites to prevent local populations from participating, and shaping, modernization efforts.
Later again, the term would become detached from Africa, finding its way into family psychology literature and media studies in the late 1970's.
This paper is an effort to highlight the multiplicity of meanings behind a single concept. Through a keyword-analysis, I hope to show how (social) context can shape concepts. In doing so, I expect to come to a more nuanced conclusion than the outright rejection of all knowledge gathered under problematic circumstances. Rather, our job as contemporary researchers is to salvage what is worth keeping, while being diligent in our deconstruction of knowledge as always produced within a specific political project.
Winnie Kanyimba (University of Basel)
Paper short abstract:
This paper seeks to translate the concept of tribe to that of nation to illustrate their cultural similarities. As such, this paper draws from research on intercultural translation, focusing on conceptual rules of language, as well as on political asymmetries between different knowledge systems.
Paper long abstract:
In the 1950s and 60s, European anthropologists carried out research in urban African societies in order to gain insight into their patterns of behaviour as well as their social networks. Based on flawed comparisons to European systems, their categorizations of the varied African societies led them to the conclusion that those societies were ‘tribal’ – a term which undisputedly became associated with primitivity, lack of civilization and anti-Europeanness. From this I draw the conclusion that they engaged in a form of cultural translation without peer consultation with African societies.
Today, African societies are still recognised as tribal societies. References to tribe in Africa are manifold, often referring to economic, social and political failures of the continent, while references to nation in Europe function as epitomies of the political success achieved through economic and democratic superiority.
This paper, therefore, seeks to reverse the gaze through the translation of conceptual meanings of tribe in Africa to conceptual meanings of nation in Europe, by drawing from research on intercultural translation, which demonstrates that direct translation is not always possible. I will focus on identifying conceptual rules of language that produce meanings of concepts. I will also address the political asymmetries produced as a result of unequal power relations between the researchers and the researched. Ultimately, the aim of this paper is to establish equality between African and European systems of knowledge.
Nonofo Mokwakwa (University of Botswana) Gabriel Faimau (University of Botswana)
Paper short abstract:
This paper seeks to explore the concept of Botho/Ubuntu by applying the concept to a European context. The concept emphasizes the needs of the community over that of the individual and individual achievements are view as achievements of the collective.
Paper long abstract:
For Batswana and other Bantu people in Sub Saharan Africa, the concept of Botho/Ubuntu permeates every aspect of life including policy and governance structures. Botho/Ubuntu is a concept of acceptable relational living, which is measured by one’s relationship to family, community, the environment. Botho define a process of earning respect by giving respect, being empowered by empowering others and must guide every aspect of life. Botho in everyday life is reaffirmed through greetings, which is a way of acknowledging each other’s existence and showing interest in ones wellbeing. Different from common Western practice where greetings carry little content and have become almost pro forma, in Botswana the question of “how are you?” is expected to be answered factually.
Being humble is a key aspect of Botho and it is seen as a considerate way of behaving that preserve the dignity of others. Young people are taught to respect senior citizens and to accord them respect. When explored further, the concept touches on power relations especially its emphases on obedience and respect for authority. This can be problematic in the context of democracy, where those in position of power and intrusted with authority should be held to account by the less powerful masses.
The study seeks to explore to what happens to the concept of Botho if it is moved across space. The research looks into the concept when it is applied to contemporary Europe in relation to development approach and power relations.