Naming Colonialism History and Collective Memory in the Congo, 1870-1960 |
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| Author:
| Likaka, Osumaka |
| Series title: | Africa and the Diaspora: History, Politics, Culture Ser. |
| ISBN: | 978-0-299-23363-1 |
| Publication Date: | Dec 2009 |
| Publisher: | University of Wisconsin Press
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| Book Format: | Ebook |
| List Price: | USD $33.90 |
Book Description:
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What's in a name? As Osumaka Likaka argues in this illuminating study, the names that Congolese villagers gave to European colonizers reveal much about how Africans experienced and reacted to colonialism. The arrival of explorers, missionaries, administrators, and company agents allowed Africans to observe Westerners' physical appearances, behavior, and cultural practices at close range--often resulting in subtle yet trenchant critiques. By naming Europeans, Africans turned a universal...
More DescriptionWhat's in a name? As Osumaka Likaka argues in this illuminating study, the names that Congolese villagers gave to European colonizers reveal much about how Africans experienced and reacted to colonialism. The arrival of explorers, missionaries, administrators, and company agents allowed Africans to observe Westerners' physical appearances, behavior, and cultural practices at close range--often resulting in subtle yet trenchant critiques. By naming Europeans, Africans turned a universal practice into a local mnemonic system, recording and preserving the village's understanding of colonialism in the form of pithy verbal expressions that were easy to remember and transmit across localities, regions, and generations.