The Dilemmas of an Early Career Afrocentric Academic in Ghana
Navigating the Politics of Knowledge and Being
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20241799 |
|---|---|
| Authors | D Amuzu (0000-0003-3904-3334, University of Ghana, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 118-137 |
| Publication date | 2025-01-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of African Renaissance Studies - Multi- Inter- and Transdisciplinarity (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1753-7274 • E-ISSN: 1818-6874 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/18186874.2025.2466572 |
| OpenAlex | W4408856867 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
This study examined the dilemmas encountered by an early career Afrocentric academic as he navigates the complex terrain of identity, tradition, and the politics of knowledge within Ghana’s academia. Drawing on a qualitative research approach that combines critical self-reflection and analysis of academic discourse, the article highlights the multifaceted undercurrents in the quest for Afrocentricity. Unlike existing studies that often focus on decolonising knowledge from a macro perspective, this paper foregrounds the lived experience of an individual “scholar-learner.” It reveals the intimate interplay of personal agency and structural constraints by situating these experiences within the broader theoretical and contextual frameworks. Specifically, the study explores the tensions in embracing Afrocentric scholarship while negotiating funding opportunities, institutional structures, and the socio-political dynamics that shape the academe. By examining the intersections of power, privilege, and (re)presentation in a neoliberal context, this article contributes insights into the ongoing discourse on decolonising knowledge and reimagining the global landscape of scholarship. Through its focus on personal narrative, the paper underscores the transformative potential and enduring struggles of (re)claiming the African narrative. It offers unique, authentic, and relatable insights that enrich understanding and foster connections for scholars and institutions committed to fostering Afrocentric and decolonial approaches to knowledge
Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Gender Studies · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Law
Democracy and development in Africa
Capitalism’s Crises
Decolonization, Development and Knowledge in Africa
Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture
“African magic” or “African science”
Valorising University Education in Ghana
What Afrikan Names May (or May Not) Tell Us About the State of Pan-Afrikanism
The Eye Regards Itself
Reflections on Higher Education in Ghana and Peter Ekeh’s Two Publics
African philosophy in the age of neoliberal capitalism
Decolonizing the university
Ten challenges in reconfiguring African Studies
The cognitive empire, politics of knowledge and African intellectual productions
Akan folklore as a philosophical framework for education in Ghana
Transgress
Under Western Eyes
Challenges Facing African Universities
Decolonizing Methodologies
Undoing the Demos
Invoking 're' Towards Potentialities for African Agency in (Re)search
| Highly cited | No |
|---|