Postcolonialism in Africa and the move towards Modernity with particular focus on Cameroon

Bc. Paulus Ofumgbe Eret

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The idea of Europe is largely predicated on the concept that Europe is the leader in terms of trend setting. As the global trend setter for modern civilization since the period of enlightenment, the concept of Eurocentrism is entirely significant (Delanty 1995:66). Eurocentrism presumes that Western Europe as well as North America, has set social norms and values which are European in nature and are the standard by which other societies are evaluated in terms of modernism, enlightenment, civilization and superiority (Kanth 2009:78). In this regard, colonialism can be seen as a symptom of Eurocentrism and perhaps a manifestation of its influence. Cameroon particularly suits this research study since Cameroon is perceived as one of the world’s greatest examples of Africa’s anti-colonialism movements. In fact in 1956 Cameroon’s anti-colonialism fever escalated into an all out war (Atangana 2009:157). Colonialism essentially introduced a system of rule that did not take account of cultural philosophies and norms so that Eurocentrism introduced via the French and the British were forced upon Cameroonians (Ngwainmbi 1995:68). This research study aims to analyze the manner in which cultural traditions and philosophies have been eroded by colonialism and how the theory of Eurocentrism has historically contributed to this trend in postcolonial Cameroon. Essentially, what emerges in postcolonial Cameroon is a clash of values and culture and its attending problems. The conceptual framework for this study is primarily based on the book by Bhambra Gurminder K: Rethinking Modernity: Postcolonialism and the Sociological Imagination (Bhambra 2007). Essentially Bhambra (2007:56) hypothesizes that the West’s history of progress under the theme of Eurocentrism is at the heart of the non-Western world’s concept of modernization. In this regard, the erosion of culture and tradition in Cameroon under the auspices of colonialism is central to the hypothesis that Eurocentrism has penetrated the very fiber of Cameroon’s cultural values and philosophies. In order to have a general view of modernity and post colonialism in Africa, particular attention will be focused on Cameroon partly because of her unique triple colonial experiences and partly because of the availability of literatures as well as life experiences for the country. Such an historical investigation has been advised by postcolonial theorists such as Bhambra. According to Bhambra (2007), an understanding of the present requires a comprehension of the past. Essentially, the entire research is a critical analysis of available literatures and some postcolonial experiences on the evolution of the Cameroonian society. Based on the analysis of written works and life experiences on the postcolonial conditions of Cameroon, this research concludes with the affirmation of the hypothesis that modernism is a European construct due to Eurocentrism and that the backwardness of African ex-colonies is a legacy of colonialism.

Keywords

Modernity, Eurocentrism and Postcolonialism

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 20. 12. 2010

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 1. 2011
• Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D.
• Reader: doc. Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
Sociology / Sociology (Eng.)