"Yurugu: An African-Centered critique of European Though, Culture, and Behavior" by Marimba Ani

Ever since posting on these boards my brother and I have wanted to have a discussion of the topics and issues addressed in this work because it addresses so many topics about not only why Europeans behave the way they do, but how to recognize those behaviors. It also answers through explicit definition and comparison, some classic questions that are posed to african-centered thought.

Bolekaja!*

from the introduction:

"This study is an intentionally aggressive polemic. It is an assault upon the European paradigm; a repudiation of its essence. It is initiated with the intention of contributing to the process of demystification necessary for those of us who would liberate ourselves from european intellectual imperialism...

...Intellectual decolonization is a prerequisite for the creation of successful political decolonization and cultural reconstruction strategies. Europe's political imperialistic success can be accredited not so much to superior military might, as to the weapon of culture: The former ensures a more immediate control but requires continual physical force for the maintenance of power, while the latter succeeds in long lasting dominance that enlists the cooperation o its victims (i.e. pacification of will). The secret Europeans discovered early in their history is that culture carries rules for thinking, and that if you could impose your culture on your victims you could limit the creativity of their vision, destroying their ability to act with will and intent and in their own interest."

*Bolekaja is a Yoruba term meaning, "Come on down, let's fight!"