Bondage of Boundaries and the ‘Toxic Other’ in Postcolonial Africa

Call for Papers

Book title: Bondage of Boundaries and the ‘Toxic Other’ in Postcolonial Africa: The ‘Northern Problem’ and Identity Politics in the 21st Century

Publisher: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press

Submission of manuscript to publisher: 30 November 2011

Date of Publication: 2012

Editors:

(1) Professor Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni
Email: [email][email protected]
(2) Dr Brilliant Mhlanga
Email: [email][email protected] or [email][email protected]

1. Synopsis
Bondage of boundaries manifest itself in the form of a phenomenon better defined as the ‘northern problem’ that the founding fathers of postcolonial nation-states tried to suppress without much success. The basic thesis for this edited book is that there is no postcolonial African state without its own ‘northern problem.’ By the ‘northern problem’ we mean the existence of an enclosed and disgruntled group claiming a particular history, particular myth of foundation, particular heroes, particular symbols and signs, and particular identity that is different from the dominant ‘ethnie’ around which postcolonial nation-states are constructed and imagined. The concept of the ‘northern problem’ does not necessarily imply that these forms of disenchantment and their fissures are found in the northern parts of any nation-state in Africa. Rather the implication is that most nation-states in Africa have these problems that have sought to question the state, to the extent of providing a cause in most situations for calls for secession or a revision of boundaries as well as systems of governance.

The ‘northern problem’ in our view, manifests itself in terms of a group that is not fully integrated, forced to co-exist with dominant ‘ethnies’ who considered by the disgruntled groups as the ‘toxic other’ to borrow a Zizekian terminology. What we term the ‘northern problem’ is linked to the often dismissed but ubiquitous politics of federalism, decentralisation, irredentism and secession by those struck in imposed and enforced unitary conceptions of the postcolonial nation-states. This politics has its roots in realities and perceptions of being unwanted, dominated, excluded, suppressed, and marginalised from the nation, enjoyment of national resources, power, and representation in national symbols and culture.

We also see the ‘northern problem’ as linked to a situation of the existence of a ‘nation within a nation’ in Africa that has its roots in post-Berlin Conference partition of Africa. The rise of African nationalism and pandering to pan-Africanism did not deal with what Adekeye Adebajo (2010) termed the ‘curse of Berlin.’ For instance, the OAU upheld the principles of inviolability of existing boundaries and in the process shying away from the problems of bondages of boundaries as defined by Ali Mazrui (1994). It is yet to be seen whether the current African toying with the idea of a United States of Africa will solve the crisis of bondages of boundaries and the vicissitudes of the ‘northern problem’ that has for a long time considered a threat to the postcolonial nation-states and the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Contributors to this book will explore some of the following broad themes and others of their choice from both theoretical and empirical case study perspectives:

(1) Definition of the ‘northern problem’ and mapping of its extent and dynamics in postcolonial Africa

(2) Founding fathers, strategies of nation-building and the handling of the ‘northern problem’

(3) The role of violence, repression and impunity in dealing with the ‘northern problem’

(4) Rethinking ethnicity, race and tribalism in postcolonial Africa

(5) Making sense of politics of irredentism, federalism and secession as forms of resolution of the ‘northern question’

(6) Regional integration and pan-Africanism as forms of resolution of the northern problem

(7) Flip side of globalisation, return of the local and the politics of ‘new nationalisms’ and autochthonous discourses

(8) Linguistic diversity and the problem of plurilingualism

(9) Migration, nativism and xenophobia

2. Provisional contents
This is just for guidance and is not rigid. The actual book’s contents will entirely depend on the quality and quantity of chapter submissions:

Introduction: The ‘Northern Question’ and the ‘Toxic Other’ in Postcolonial Africa (editors)
Part One: Historical Roots and Discursive Formations of the ‘Northern Problem’
Part one of this book consist of the following chapters:
Chapter 1: Defining and mapping the contours of the ‘northern problem’
Chapter 2: The ‘Berlin Consensus’ and the shaping of African identity politics
Chapter 3: Founding fathers and the ideology of unitary nation-states
Chapter 4: The OAU/AU and the notions of inviolability of colonial boundaries

Description:
Chapter 1 grapples with definition and key contours of the ‘northern problem’ in African history. Chapter 2 specifically engages the legacies of the Berlin Conference of 1884-5 and its impact on identity politics in Africa. Chapter 3 focuses on the politics and ideologies of nation-building in Africa dating back to the late 1950s and early 1960s particularly the attempts to silence minorities within inherited colonial boundaries. Chapter 4 deals with the rational, poverty, and the limits of the OAU/AU’s principles of inviolability of colonial boundaries in Africa.

Part Two: Bondages of Boundaries and the Question of Minorities
Part two of this book consists of the following chapters:
Chapter 5: Irredentism, secession or federalism?
Chapter 6: Rethinking ethnicity, race and ‘tribalism’
Chapter 7: The challenges of linguistic diversity
Chapter 8: Role of violence in nation-state building

Description:
Chapter 5 is focused on detailed analysis of the selected case studies ranging from the Biafra War of 1967 in Nigeria, Southern Nigeria (Ogoniland the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People), ongoing struggles in the Niger Delta (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta), Caprivians in Namibia (United Democratic Party politics of secession), Barotseland people who want the revival of their monarchy in Zambia, the Ndebele in Zimbabwe, the Kalanga of Botswana, Zulu nationalism and its discontents, the Ngoni of Malawi, the Nanumbas and Konkumbas in Ghana, the Zanzibarians (Pemba) in Tanzania, the Bamenda in Southern Cameroon, Northern Somaliland, to the Southern Sudan which is waiting finalisation through a referendum in 2011. Chapter 6 grapples with the latest thinking on the problematic issues of ethnicity and tribalism in postcolonial Africa. Chapter 7 deals with the equally problematic issue of plurilingualism as a curse in postcolonial Africa. Chapter 8 analyses how minorities have been invited to the nation on a car written in blood and the continuing use of violence to deny social pluralism and diversities.

Part Three: From ‘Diverse People Unite’ to Xenophobia
Part Three consists of the following chapters:
Chapter 9: Is Pan-Africanism and regional integration a panacea?
Chapter 10: New nationalism(s) and the perils of belonging
Chapter 11: Sovereignty and its discontents in the 21st century
Chapter 12: Globalisation, Migration and Deterritorialisation

Description:
Chapter 8 examines the future prospects of pan-Africanism and regional integration in a continent that is characterised by deepening politics of difference. Chapter 9 engages with the notion of new nationalisms underpinned by autochthonous discourses that have given birth to nativism and xenophobia. Chapter 10 revisits the debates on sovereignty with a view to understand the question of who enjoys sovereignty as well as dealing its discontents that speak directly to the issue of the ‘northern question.’ Chapter 12 engages with globalisation, migration and deterritorialisation in their relation to identity.

4. Approximate length of the book:
The length of the book is envisaged to be between 80 000 and 120 000 words.
This is inclusive of illustrations, maps and tables in any.

5. Time-table of delivery of the manuscript:
(1) Deadline for receipt of abstracts: 30 January 2011
(2) Deadline of receipt of full papers: 30 June 2011
(3) Deadline for revised papers: 30 August 2011
(4) Submission of edited manuscript to the publisher: 30 November 2011

Send abstract to editors:

(1) Dr Brilliant Mhlanga
Communication and Media Research Institute
School of Media, Arts and Design
University of Westminster
Harrow Campus, Watford Road
Middlesex, HA1 3TP, London
United Kingdom Mobile: +44-77 86363564
Email: [email][email protected]

(2) Professor Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni
Department of Development Studies
University of South Africa
PO Box 392
UNISA 0002
Pretoria
Republic of South Africa
Tel-+27-11 762 8908 or +27-766644398
Email: [email][email protected]