Can a Liberal be a Chief? Can a Chief be a Liber – Some Thoughts on an Unfinished Business of Colonialism

An argument against the idea of the indigenous chief as a liberal political figure. Across Africa, it is not unusual for proponents of liberal democracy and modernization to make room for some aspects of indigenous culture, such as the use of a chief as a political figure. Yet for Olu¿f?¿mi Täi¿wo`, no such accommodation should be made. Chiefs, he argues, in this thought-provoking and wide-ranging pamphlet, cannot be liberals-and liberals cannot be chiefs. If we fail to recognize this, we fail to acknowledge the metaphysical underpinnings of modern understandings of freedom and equality, as well as the ways in which African intellectuals can offer a distinctive take on the unfinished business of colonialism.

About the author

Olúfémi Táíwò is professor of Africana studies at Cornell University.

Product details

• Authors: Olufemi Taiwo, Olúfémi Táíwò
• Publisher: Prickly Paradigm Press, LLC
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.11.2021
• EAN: 9781734643527
• ISBN: 978-1-73464-352-7
• No. of pages: 86
• Dimensions: 179 mm x 115 mm x 9 mm
• Weight: 104 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political system