Professor Mathole Motshekga, Executive Director of the Kara Heritage Institute and Chairperson of The African Renaissance Forum, asserts that Africa is the cradle of humanity
“Reclaim Africa’s cultural heritage narrative from biased foreign powers” – Urges Professor Mathole Motshekga
By Malatji Monyelegwete and Isaack Duba | malatji.monyelegwete@ul.ac.za
Professor Mathole Motshekga, Executive Director of the Kara Heritage Institute and Chairperson of The African Renaissance Forum, argues that Africa’s cultural heritage has been systematically undermined by foreign powers, despite the continent’s ancient and profound contributions to human civilisation
Prof Motshekga addressed the burning issue amongst African historians during a public lecture at the University of Limpopo (UL). The lecture focused on the ‘Decolonisation of the African Mind through African Spirituality’. This event, organised by UL’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the School of Social Sciences, was aimed at tabling thought provoking discussions and serving as a platform for reflection on the African Renaissance. It sought to explore the meaning of decolonising the African mind through African spirituality and shed light on Africa’s unique contributions to global historical and cultural narratives.
The renowned Pan-Africanist eloquently described the three streams of history and heritage in the world, namely: African, Asian, and European. He stated, whilst African cultural heritage has been systematically undermined, “the Arabs and Europeans used their cultural heritage and religions to capture the mind, body, and soul of African humanity.” Central to Prof Motshekga’s discourse was the concept of Karaism, an African philosophy of origins and being. He advocated for a holistic approach to decolonising the African personality, deeply rooted in Karaism. This approach, he argued, requires Africans to fully understand themselves, their backgrounds, and their futures. “By reconnecting with their indigenous knowledge systems and cultural heritage, Africans can reclaim their identities and foster a renaissance rooted in authenticity,” he said.
He further advised that to decolonise the African mind, people must revisit African ways of living and doing things, the customs and belief systems to break free from colonial mindset that has for the longest time, tramped on Africans. The Executive Director of the Kara Heritage Institute and Chairperson of The African Renaissance Forum ’s address resonated deeply with the audience, particularly the youth. He emphasised that grounding African youth and children in Karaism and indigenous knowledge systems would empower them to navigate their identities confidently and contribute to the continent’s future.
Prof Motshekga also highlighted the need for collaboration to bring about changes in the curriculum taught in institutions. He stated, “We need a forum that will bring all scholars together to promote Afrocentrism and eliminate Eurocentrism.”
He underscored the African Union’s (AU) declaration of the 21st century as the African century, citing the AU’s 2021 theme, which highlighted the pivotal role of African arts, culture, and heritage in shaping the desired future for Africa. Prof Motshekga called upon African youth to seek African solutions to African problems, emphasising that true empowerment begins with self-knowledge.
Prof Satsope Maoto, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at UL, provided valuable overview for the attendees, emphasising each of Prof Motshekga’s talking points. She urged the audience to continue their journey of self-discovery, encouraging them to understand who they are, where they come from, and where they are headed. “In a meaningful way, we must discover our true selves, our origins, and our future directions,” Prof Maoto advised.
A packed R-40 conference hall at UL, with students and staff attending the public lecture to learn more about the African Renaissance