Re-Inventing Africa

Introduction

Now in this Essential Amadiume edition designed to bring Amadiume's groundbreaking ideas to a new generation of readers, this extraordinary book issues a clarion call for a new understanding of Africa, one made and written by Africans.

Challenge to Western Anthropologists

Here Amadiume issues a seminal challenge to Western anthropologists to recognize their own complicity in producing a version of Africa that is often little more than a reflection of their own class-based, patriarchal thought.

Analysis of Social Structures

Amadiume explores how imperialism, violence, patriarchy and class-based social structures - originally imposed by colonialism - have become internalized to result in a contemporary Africa cursed with neo-colonial states.

Matriarchal History and Women's Empowerment

She uncovers the hidden matriarchal history of Africa, which continues to empower women in political struggle throughout the continent.

Religious Masculinization

She looks at the masculinization of indigenous African religions, effected largely by the imposition of Christianity and Islam.

Social Theorists and History

Ultimately, she provides a guide to the main Afro-centric social theorists, writing a new social history of their continent.

Dedication

Dedicated to the diasporic African communities in their struggle to construct alternative, anti-racist and anti-imperialist epistemologies of self-representation and self-generated ideals, this is a radical vision of Africa from the powerful voice of an African woman.