| Abstract: | This essay reflects on the turbulent relationship between African nationalism and African intellectuals and the academic community. It argues that although much has been written on this relationship, in particular on African intellectuals' fascination with or adhesion to nationalism, confusion still exists concerning the nature of African nationalism, which has often been interpreted in a narrow, economistic way. The essay first outlines the key elements of African nationalism - complete decolonization of the African continent and national sovereignty, nationbuilding, economic and social development, democratization, and regional cooperation - and how these have been addressed by nationalist leaders such as Julius Nyerere. Then it describes the role of intellectuals during the struggle for independence and the early independence years. Finally, it discusses nationbuilding in the current context of globalization, arguing that nationalism and its main projects have fallen on hard times - betrayed by some of its heroes, undercut by international institutions and forces of globalization, caricatured by academics, and alien to a whole generation of Africans born after independence. Yet, African intellectuals need to revisit the same issues that engaged the 'founding fathers' of nationalism in order to address the problems of poverty, war, and repression that devastate the continent. Notes, ref. |
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