In Thiaroye, Thinking Africa advocates knowledge rooted in African realities

A Thinking Africa conference was held in Thiaroye on the question of African futures. The event forms part of the IDEAS – THINKING AFRICA project, which aims to revive in Dakar a tradition of public conferences through a monthly gathering.

This series has already been held at the Musée des Civilisations Noires and in Thiès. It seeks to create spaces for discussion where African knowledge, experiences and trajectories can inform analysis of the continent’s challenges.

Thinking from Africa

Alioune Diaw, a lecturer-researcher in the Modern Literature Department at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, defended the idea that Africa’s destiny should be shaped on the basis of the continent’s own thinking. According to him, the discussions in Thiaroye were intended to enable reflection from Africa, for Africa, while remaining open to the world.

The academic linked this approach to decoloniality, understood as freedom from intellectual frameworks inherited from colonisation. According to the reported information, these models can be found in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres.

An appeal to academics

Alioune Diaw also called on academics to engage directly with communities and to multiply initiatives beyond their offices. He believes universities must serve the public, beyond producing theses and academic articles.

From this perspective, public meetings are not conceived as one-way teaching sessions, but as opportunities for exchange. The project therefore emphasises shared responsibility in Africa’s development.

Next meeting at the Musée des Civilisations Noires

The next announced meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 28 February, at 11 a.m. at the Musée des Civilisations Noires. It will focus on the theme, “Indigenous Knowledge and African Futures,” and will continue the discussions launched in Thiaroye.