Constructivism as the Root of Transcolonial Approach to African Affairs

Abstract

The transcolonial approach is the most recent position in contemporary African studies. At its core is the need to balance four issues, namely, importance of social values, the place of human agency and historical culpability in relation to Africa, mutability of cultural resources, identities, and epistemic orientations, and transformative potentials of human creativity in charting promising and sustainable new path(s) for contemporary Africa. But what principle underscores this approach? This question is addressed in the contribution. The aim is to highlight social constructivism in general, and Afroconstructivism in particular, as the philosophical principle that grounds transcolonial approach to African affairs in exploring these issues. The chapter will also demonstrate how transcolonization is a more defensible and sustainable approach to African studies and affairs, than decolonialism. To achieve this aim, the philosophical assumptions that undergird (Afro-)constructivism will be explored, as well as its logic and robustness in the face of lingering development crises in Africa. This chapter will argue that decolonialism amounts to an intellectual black hole. Transcolonization instead offers more reflexive, realistic, and achievable hope for the future of Africa and Africa's contributions to the world as it continuously identifies opportunities for constructive inclusion of excellent ideas from all possible perspectives, frameworks, and eras, undeterred by exaggerated identity markers.