HED4805 Assignment 3 Semester 1 ANSWERS 2026 - Due 1o August 2026

Question 1 (25) Read the given extract titled, “Colonialism, coloniality and post-colonial Africa: a conceptual framework”, from chapter 7 of the prescribed book (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter 2020), and then answer the questions that follow. Colonialism, coloniality and post-colonial Africa: a conceptual framework Post-colonial reconstruction of African societies cannot be limited to political and economic transformation. Due to the predominance of Western epistemologies and systems of education during and after colonialism, the African masses often became oblivious to their forgotten history. Western European colonial policies such as ‘assimilation’ (French) and ‘assimilados’ (Portuguese) were based on a rejection of the local culture and an adoption of a foreign, European culture – essentially a denial of an African identity. The African elite that worked in close collaboration with the colonial administration often became the main protagonists of European culture. When a few African leaders met in Addis Ababa in 1963 to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the objective was to liberate the continent from colonialism and apartheid. While apartheid was abolished in 1994, African countries remained largely dependent on foreign aid, which compromised their political and economic independence. Without achieving its objectives, the OAU was dissolved in July 2002 and difference’ that operates on a notion of a ‘coloniality of power’. Mignolo borrows the concept ‘double consciousness’ from WEB du Bois, which captures the dilemma of subjectivities formed within the colonial difference, i.e. the experience of anyone who has lived and lives modernity from coloniality (Mignolo & Ennis, 1999:29–30). Double consciousness becomes a crucial concept in explaining the ambivalence and tendencies of liberated Africans towards colonialism. 1. Define “colonialism” in your own words. (3) 2. How does Maldonado-Torres explain the concept of coloniality? (2) 3. Explain the difference between colonialism and coloniality. (5) 4. Sketch the sociohistorical background of colonialism and coloniality in the South African context. (10) 5. Do you agree with the colonial policies that were implemented by the European powers? Substantiate your answer. (5) Question 2 (25) Read the given extract titled, “Paradigms in education historiography”, from chapter 2 of the prescribed book (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter 2020), and then answer the questions that follow.