Praxis
The discipline of Africology has a rather unique praxis. In fact, our
praxis is at the core of what makes our discipline so unique from any
other. The praxis serves as a constant source of motivation for
Africologists and is inherent in any legitimate Africological inquiry.
In the introductory chapter of The Afrocentric Paradigm, perhaps
the most seminal text in our field, Ama Mazama (2002) imparts that,
“From an Afrocentric perspective, where knowledge can never be produced
for the sake of it but always for the sake of our liberation, a paradigm
must activate our consciousness to be of any use to us” (p. 8). The
production of knowledge for the sake of liberation is what separates
this discipline from any other in the western academy. As
aforementioned, Africology operates strictly on the Afrocentric
paradigm, and as the African world is in disarray, the paradigm dictates
to the discipline of Africology that it must be holistically involved in
the restoration and upkeep of the African world. Therefore,
Africological historiography exhibits an inherent praxis to restore
African ontology, and subsequently African cosmology and agency.
Africologists are committed to aiding the Africana Cultural Project in
order to bring about such reality. In the words of Mazama, “The
ultimate test will be our praxis” (p. 8).