Decolonisation of Materialities or Materialisation of (Re-)Colonisation

Contemporary scholarly discourses about decolonising materialities are taking two noticeable trajectories, the first trajectory privileges establishing �connections�, �relationships� and �associations� between human beings and nature. The second trajectory privileges restoration, restitution, reparations for colonial dispossessions, lootings and disinheritance. While the first trajectory presupposes that colonialism was merely about �separation�, �alienation�, and �disconnections� between human beings and nature, the second trajectory stresses the colonialists� dispossession, disinheritance and privations of Africans. Drawing on contemporary discourses about materialities in relation to semiotics, (non-)representationalism, rhetoric, ecocriticism, territorialisation, deterritorialisation and reterritorialisation, translation, animism, science and technology studies, this book teases out the intellectually rutted terrain of African materialities. It argues that in a world of increasing impoverishment, the significance of materialities cannot be overemphasised: more so for the continent of Africa where impoverishment �materialises� in the midst of resource opulence. The book is a pacesetter in no holds barred interrogation of African materialities.