In western imagery Africa is a continent of static, ‘traditional’, societies that are incompatible with, even antithetical to, western progress and modernity. This book looks into processes of change and transformation in Africa in the context of modernity and globalization, showing the resilience, rather than the expected demise, of local cultures in Africa. In this volume, the persistent western modern myth is deconstructed.

Most contributions are from students of Peter Geschiere: young Africanists from Africa and Europe from different disciplinary backgrounds, including anthropology, history, political sciences and law. Based on extensive fieldwork conducted during the last two decennia they reflect on the three main themes that are central to Geschiere’s work: African politics, the modernity of witchcraft, and the construction of communal identities in times of globalization.
These themes cover some of the most topical subjects currently debated in African studies not only by Geschiere but also by his close colleagues, including Jean-François Bayart, Achille Mbembe and Jean and John Comaroff, all known for being critical and ‘cutting edge’. This critical attitude has inspired all of the contributions, including that of the Latin Americanist Michiel Baud. The aforementioned scholars have instigated debates on African politics in terms of ‘Africanizing the state’ while occult forces - witchcraft often being taken to be the hallmark of a traditional world view - are understood as part and parcel of processes of modernization and nation-state building. Ethnic and religious identities, intersected with gender, class and generation, prove to be important anchors of ‘authenticity’ and ‘autochthony’ in an era of globalization. The personal reflections on the coming of age as Africanists as exemplified by the contributions of Geschiere’s students in this volume have theoretical and methodological implications, but also throw light on the anthropology of Africa in late twentieth century academia in The Netherlands.

From modern myths to global encounters is essential reading for students and scholars in African Studies, Development Studies, Political Science, International Law, Anthropology and History of Africa as well as for anyone interested in postcolonial African studies.