Africanise

To Africanise means to imbue something with African characteristics, values, or perspectives. This process can involve adopting elements of African culture, integrating African influences into a system or environment, or reinterpreting concepts from an African standpoint. It signifies a shift towards prioritizing African identity and experience. Africanisation can apply to various domains, including language, education, governance, economy, and cultural production. The objective can be decolonization, promoting self-determination, and celebrating and valuing African heritage and contributions. It often involves reclaiming agency and challenging dominant narratives that may marginalize or misrepresent African people and societies. Ultimately, Africanise can be viewed as the process of making something more African in its essence, orientation, or operation.

Africanise meaning with examples

• The university aimed to Africanise its curriculum by incorporating more African literature, history, and perspectives, moving away from a solely Eurocentric focus. This included hiring more African professors and offering courses that delved deep into the continent’s diverse experiences, fostering a more inclusive learning environment.
• After independence, the country decided to Africanise its legal system, replacing colonial-era laws with ones that reflected indigenous customs and values. This process included establishing traditional courts alongside modern legal structures, aiming to make justice more accessible and relevant to local populations.
• The fashion industry sought to Africanise its designs, incorporating African prints, textiles, and silhouettes into clothing lines. This involved collaborating with African designers and artisans, celebrating African craftsmanship and heritage, and expanding markets for African-made products.
• The government sought to Africanise the national economy by supporting local businesses and industries. This involved promoting indigenous entrepreneurship and restricting foreign ownership of key sectors, with the aim of ensuring greater African control of its resources and economic destiny.
• As part of the cultural revival movement, artists, filmmakers and musicians sought to Africanise their art forms, creating works that reflected the African experience and challenged Western artistic conventions. This led to a flowering of unique creative expressions that celebrated African identity and celebrated its rich storytelling traditions.