Difference between revisions of "African"

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 15: Line 15:
  
 
The key debate concerns the defining characteristics required of an [[African]] person.
 
The key debate concerns the defining characteristics required of an [[African]] person.
 +
 +
 +
See for example debates posted on:
 +
 +
http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/africanrace.html
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Revision as of 07:19, 17 February 2014

As an adjective

It literally means "of Africa", in the sense of belonging to and arising from Africa. However the term is somewhat fraught, and it can really only be used with assurance in very general terms, for applying the adjective to any specific cultural, economic, political, scientific or social activity is virtually impossible given the size and demographic and cultural diversity of the continent. Indeed, a natural question often asked (e.g. by Kole Omotoso and many others), is: "What Africa are you talking about?"

The fact is that there are really a multitude of "Africas", each with its own particular cultural, social, political, economic, ethical and other characteristics - and ipso facto, its own traditions, conventions and functions. Pinpointing a single, continental "identity" is virtually impossible.


(See also points made under Africa and African theatre)

As a noun

Normally "an African" is used to refer to "a person from Africa". However, this has recently become a most difficult and much debated term, particularly in South Africa and some of the other former colonies.

The key debate concerns the defining characteristics required of an African person.


See for example debates posted on:

http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/africanrace.html

Sources

Hutchison and Omotoso. 1995.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

Return to

Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page