Beyond the Political Spider: Critical Issues in African Humanities by Kwesi Yankah is the first title in the newly established African Humanities Association (AHA) publication series.
By integrating his own biography into a critique of the global politics of knowledge production, Yankah, through a collection of essays, interrogates critical issues confronting the Humanities that spawn intellectual hegemonies and muffle African voices. Using the example of Ghana, he brings under scrutiny, amongst others, endemic issues of academic freedom, gender inequities, the unequal global academic order, and linguistic imperialism in language policies in governance.
In the face of these challenges, the author deftly navigates the complex terrain of indigenous knowledge and language in the context of democratic politics, demonstrating that agency can be liberatory when emphasising indigenous knowledge, especially expressed through the idiom of local languages and symbols, including Ananse, the protean spider, folk hero in Ghana and most parts of the pan-African world.
Author(s): Kwesi Yankah
Publisher: NISC
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 341
City: Makhanda
Cover
Dedication
About the Series
Title page
Copyright page
Contents
Foreword
List of abbreviations and acronyms
Prologue. Until the lion learns to speak, Tales of hunting will always favour the hunter
Issues
Historical icon
Acknowledgements
Section 1 - Defining moments
1. Rising with the African Humanities
Definition
Plight
Enter Africa
World academic order
Indiana as game changer
Lessons
Stanford stamp
Two visitors
The African Humanities Program agenda
Outcomes
Changed orientation to research
Towards African ownership
Local initiatives
Local-global dialogue
Postscript
References cited
2. Science speaks, the Humanities answer
Prelude
Contextual look
The science nightmare
Exam outcomes
60:40 national policy
Humanities in the tertiary sector
National research grants
National Research and Innovation Fund
Balanced development
The Humanities and friends
Research funding
Conclusions
Reference cited
3. Arts and the African identity
Introduction
Arts and national identity
The Academy
Diaspora
Royal patronage
Heritage sites
Missed opportunities
Presidential initiatives
Heritage renewed
Reference cited
Section 2 - Towards academic excellence
4. The quest for a new world academic order
Introduction
Power base
Politics of mainstream
Culture and scholarship
Imitative agenda
Access and local knowledge
Indigenous consciousness
How intellectual?
A politician’s vision
Laments of tradition bearers
Alienation as tragedy
Orality and writing
Proposals
National academies
References cited
Personal communication
5. The drumbeat of academic freedom
Theatre
Landmark
Distinct space
Radio Univers
Academic freedom
The Legon Observer
Busia
Acheampong
Hilla Limann
Jerry Rawlings
Kufuor
The saga of gate demolition
Academia fights back
University as thoroughfare
New laws
Epilogue
References cited
6. Towards gender parity in higher education
Prologue
Sarbah
Gender education
Evolution of residential system
Volta Hall
Main Hall
Women celebrities
Nkrumah-Sarbah vision
Outcomes
Incidents
Anti-women stereotypes
Policy innovations
Statistical trends
Affirmative action
The break with gender tradition
Resistance
Comparative data
Conclusion
Postscript
References cited
Section 3. Language in governance
7. Language and the dilemma in public policy
Participation
State policy
Multilingualism
Censorship
Political will
Attitudes
Legislature
Constitutional ambivalence
Constraining factors
Code mixing
Rationale
Language and the District Assemblies
Two case studies
Conclusion
References cited
8. Kwame Nkrumah’s Verandah Boys
Going to school
Titles
Krobo Edusei
D. C. Kwame Kwakye
Legacy
The making of a constitution
Translation
Madam Abena Atea
Conclusions
References cited
Personal communication
9. Language, education, and electoral choices
Introduction
Rhetoric of mobilisation
Academic credentials
English proficiency
Linguistic profiles of power seekers
Conclusions
References cited
Personal communication
Section 4 - Rhetoric and social power
10. Proverbs, presidents and the politics of expediency
Introduction
Verbal ornaments
Multiple spokespersons
Sources in tradition
Politically speaking
Proverbs and presidents
Blaming the messenger
Conclusion
References cited
11. The making and breaking of Kwame Nkrumah
Postscript
Poet
References cited
12. Tweaa. Meaning and the social power of little words
Introduction
Extended applications
Celebrity
Small word, big name
Incident
Power play
Language
Extended uses
Global
Conclusion
Reference cited
13. The folktale as a political transcript
Discourse in political context
Tale as rhetoric
The diaspora
Popular song and satire
Innuendo
Nana Kwame Ampadu
Conclusion
References cited
Personal communication
Section 5 - Outstanding Humanists
14. J. H. Kwabena Nketia 1921–2019
Legend
Honours
Works
National development
Reinventing tradition
Sources of inspiration
There he lay
References cited
15. Efua Sutherland: 1924–1996
Introduction
African worldview
Nkrumah factor
Encounters
Contemporary extensions
Legacy
Children
Cultural policy
Conclusions
References cited
16. Agya Koo Nimo
Prelude
Dialogue with students
Performance
Gratitude
Biography
Science in music
Wings to fly
Reference cited
Epilogue. Beyond the Political Spider
Coping with teaching during COVID
References cited
Personal communication
Index
Back cover
