The Afrocentric Paradigm

by Ama Mazama (Editor)

This book focuses on the intellectual dimension of Afrocentricity, which has aroused a great deal of interest since its inception, but has remained clouted with theoretical confusion. Writing from an Afrocentric perspective, the contributors to the volume argue that Afrocentricity is best understood as a paradigm, consisting of three distinct, but related aspects, the affective/cognitive/conative, structural, and functional. This volume concerns itself more specifically with the affective/cognitive/conative aspect, which involves 1) the metaphysical foundations of Afrocentricity and identifies the epistemological centrality of the African cultural and historical experience as the organizing principle of the Afrocentric paradigm, and 2) the sociological dimension of the Afrocentric paradigm, namely the academic discipline of Africology, Afrocentric concepts, methodology, and methods. The essays included here address these aspects of the Afrocentric paradigm. Contributors include Molefi Kete Asante, Danjuma Sinue Modupe, Maulana Karenga, Norman Harris, Linda James Myers, Na’im Akbar, Clenora Hudson-Weems, Nah Dove, Jerome H. Schiele, Ama Mazama, Karimu Welsh-Asante, Mwalimu J. Shujaa, and Asa Hillard.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy

293 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this fantastic book of essays, and It all seems so simple when we operate from our own center. The world becomes a much easier place to navigate once we are centered. It is obvious that we can solve a lot of what ails Black America by changing our perspective. This volume is a call to arms so to speak and challenges each of us to reexamine the very real power of Afrocentricity. Highly recommend it!