Just as I'm reading Mbembe's Postcolony again, first the story about AI use by African autocrats and now this.
It is time to read and teach it again. (And realise it's relevant beyond the continent)
It is time to read and teach it again. (And realise it's relevant beyond the continent)
all of this means that notions of “sources” and “archives” and “evidence” and “fact” are fraught, convenient fictions, at best
yet, many who write about these things do not contend with their fictional—fabulist?—nature, and so we get strange accounts, or none at all
yet, many who write about these things do not contend with their fictional—fabulist?—nature, and so we get strange accounts, or none at all
September 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Just as I'm reading Mbembe's Postcolony again, first the story about AI use by African autocrats and now this.
It is time to read and teach it again. (And realise it's relevant beyond the continent)
It is time to read and teach it again. (And realise it's relevant beyond the continent)
Professor Berihun Gebeye joined us as a Coleman Visiting Scholar. He taught Major Themes in African Constitutional Law & participated in the Murphy Law & Economy series, where he presented his paper, 'Jurisdemocracy: An Approach to Constitutionalism in the Postcolony.'
Thank you, Professor Gebeye!
Thank you, Professor Gebeye!
September 4, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Professor Berihun Gebeye joined us as a Coleman Visiting Scholar. He taught Major Themes in African Constitutional Law & participated in the Murphy Law & Economy series, where he presented his paper, 'Jurisdemocracy: An Approach to Constitutionalism in the Postcolony.'
Thank you, Professor Gebeye!
Thank you, Professor Gebeye!
Only the one chapter in Achille Mbembe's On the Postcolony, the slacker.
August 27, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Only the one chapter in Achille Mbembe's On the Postcolony, the slacker.
The focus in the public discourse on the president's rectal functions, inter alia, returns us, more than ever, to Mbembe, Provisional Notes on the Postcolony (1992; pdf here), and beyond, Bakhtin and Rabelais
www.engagingvulnerability.se/wp-content/u...
www.engagingvulnerability.se/wp-content/u...
www.engagingvulnerability.se
August 17, 2026 at 3:30 AM
The focus in the public discourse on the president's rectal functions, inter alia, returns us, more than ever, to Mbembe, Provisional Notes on the Postcolony (1992; pdf here), and beyond, Bakhtin and Rabelais
www.engagingvulnerability.se/wp-content/u...
www.engagingvulnerability.se/wp-content/u...
The fearmongering around AI reminds me of a portion of On the Postcolony by Achille Mbembe that talks about how modern dictators make an effort to appear as gross and cruel as possible. Not just as a weapon against their enemies, but as a show of strength and power to their subjects.
July 27, 2026 at 1:52 PM
The fearmongering around AI reminds me of a portion of On the Postcolony by Achille Mbembe that talks about how modern dictators make an effort to appear as gross and cruel as possible. Not just as a weapon against their enemies, but as a show of strength and power to their subjects.
India is the biggest postcolony in the world. India and postcolonial are oft considered synonymous. What happens in India has wider implications.
Solidarity w/ the student protesters simply demanding accountability from political reps. Some have had to cut off ties w/ biofam to march in the rally.
Solidarity w/ the student protesters simply demanding accountability from political reps. Some have had to cut off ties w/ biofam to march in the rally.
July 20, 2026 at 5:17 AM
India is the biggest postcolony in the world. India and postcolonial are oft considered synonymous. What happens in India has wider implications.
Solidarity w/ the student protesters simply demanding accountability from political reps. Some have had to cut off ties w/ biofam to march in the rally.
Solidarity w/ the student protesters simply demanding accountability from political reps. Some have had to cut off ties w/ biofam to march in the rally.
My bracket is running our (large, respectable, if I do say so) pool, thanks largely to Switzerland. But my horse is now hitched to Les Bleus as they head into a classic postcolony matchup. And it might not feel good but
Napoleon at Waterloo: 'Here I Am'
ALT: Napoleon at Waterloo: 'Here I Am'
static.klipy.com
July 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM
My bracket is running our (large, respectable, if I do say so) pool, thanks largely to Switzerland. But my horse is now hitched to Les Bleus as they head into a classic postcolony matchup. And it might not feel good but
I’m super delighted to see the publication of my latest article, “Jurisdemocracy: An approach to constitutionalism in the postcolony,” in the International Journal of Constitutional Law, with open access (thanks to @ucl.ac.uk!) 🤩 Comments welcome! 🙏 academic.oup.com/icon/advance...
July 9, 2026 at 8:55 AM
I’m super delighted to see the publication of my latest article, “Jurisdemocracy: An approach to constitutionalism in the postcolony,” in the International Journal of Constitutional Law, with open access (thanks to @ucl.ac.uk!) 🤩 Comments welcome! 🙏 academic.oup.com/icon/advance...
📢 Upcoming seminar from #USFInternationalFellow Dr Michael Gameli Dziwornu — how large-scale festive events like Detty December transform urban space in West African cities.
📅 24 June 2026 | 09:30–11:30 (GMT+1)
📍 University of Manchester
🔗 zurl.co/aREvd
#UrbanStudies #UrbanStudiesFoundation
📅 24 June 2026 | 09:30–11:30 (GMT+1)
📍 University of Manchester
🔗 zurl.co/aREvd
#UrbanStudies #UrbanStudiesFoundation
June 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
📢 Upcoming seminar from #USFInternationalFellow Dr Michael Gameli Dziwornu — how large-scale festive events like Detty December transform urban space in West African cities.
📅 24 June 2026 | 09:30–11:30 (GMT+1)
📍 University of Manchester
🔗 zurl.co/aREvd
#UrbanStudies #UrbanStudiesFoundation
📅 24 June 2026 | 09:30–11:30 (GMT+1)
📍 University of Manchester
🔗 zurl.co/aREvd
#UrbanStudies #UrbanStudiesFoundation
Namibia's no-fault divorce law took effect to nods from traditional leaders, who say custom never asked who was to blame. Law reform in a postcolony is often the state catching up to the homestead.
The full story: www.namibian.com.na/traditional-...
The full story: www.namibian.com.na/traditional-...
June 11, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Namibia's no-fault divorce law took effect to nods from traditional leaders, who say custom never asked who was to blame. Law reform in a postcolony is often the state catching up to the homestead.
The full story: www.namibian.com.na/traditional-...
The full story: www.namibian.com.na/traditional-...
Legalizing the Revolution — A Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia seminar on South Asian Politics featuring Sandipto Dasgupta, author of the award-winning Legalizing the Revolution: India and the Constitution of the Postcolony. (VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKxRsdHDDBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKxRsdHDDBY
May 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Legalizing the Revolution — A Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia seminar on South Asian Politics featuring Sandipto Dasgupta, author of the award-winning Legalizing the Revolution: India and the Constitution of the Postcolony. (VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKxRsdHDDBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKxRsdHDDBY
In my house, we call that kind of thing "postcolony" (because I have a master's degree in anthropology).
I adore eating food that was (say) originally Middle Eastern as made by Latine immigrants in a kosher restaurant. That's so cool!
I adore eating food that was (say) originally Middle Eastern as made by Latine immigrants in a kosher restaurant. That's so cool!
May 3, 2026 at 9:05 PM
In my house, we call that kind of thing "postcolony" (because I have a master's degree in anthropology).
I adore eating food that was (say) originally Middle Eastern as made by Latine immigrants in a kosher restaurant. That's so cool!
I adore eating food that was (say) originally Middle Eastern as made by Latine immigrants in a kosher restaurant. That's so cool!
Our final RELS colloquium of the year is happening this Thursday!
"Vodou, a Phylum: Transmission, Cosmic Ecologies, and Global Circulation in African Indigenous Spirituality"
Angelantonio Grossi (Penn Center for Experimental Ethnography)
Apr 16, 2026 at 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Cohen 204
"Vodou, a Phylum: Transmission, Cosmic Ecologies, and Global Circulation in African Indigenous Spirituality"
Angelantonio Grossi (Penn Center for Experimental Ethnography)
Apr 16, 2026 at 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Cohen 204
April 13, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Our final RELS colloquium of the year is happening this Thursday!
"Vodou, a Phylum: Transmission, Cosmic Ecologies, and Global Circulation in African Indigenous Spirituality"
Angelantonio Grossi (Penn Center for Experimental Ethnography)
Apr 16, 2026 at 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Cohen 204
"Vodou, a Phylum: Transmission, Cosmic Ecologies, and Global Circulation in African Indigenous Spirituality"
Angelantonio Grossi (Penn Center for Experimental Ethnography)
Apr 16, 2026 at 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Cohen 204
An in-depth exploration of Achille Mbembe’s philosophy and his call for justice in a planetary age.
https://www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-8163-5/
#Postcolonialism #PlanetaryEthics #AchilleMbembe #Philosophy
https://www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-8163-5/
#Postcolonialism #PlanetaryEthics #AchilleMbembe #Philosophy
April 6, 2026 at 12:01 PM
An in-depth exploration of Achille Mbembe’s philosophy and his call for justice in a planetary age.
https://www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-8163-5/
#Postcolonialism #PlanetaryEthics #AchilleMbembe #Philosophy
https://www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-8163-5/
#Postcolonialism #PlanetaryEthics #AchilleMbembe #Philosophy
"If one is not a human being, what is one?"
Prof. Achille Mbembe,
Historian & Political Theorist.
'On the Postcolony' (2001)
Prof. Achille Mbembe,
Historian & Political Theorist.
'On the Postcolony' (2001)
The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against - the United States, Israel and Argentina.
Fifty-two countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and European Union member states.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Fifty-two countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and European Union member states.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
UN votes to recognise enslavement of Africans as 'gravest crime against humanity'
The landmark resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount.
www.bbc.com
March 25, 2026 at 10:40 PM
"If one is not a human being, what is one?"
Prof. Achille Mbembe,
Historian & Political Theorist.
'On the Postcolony' (2001)
Prof. Achille Mbembe,
Historian & Political Theorist.
'On the Postcolony' (2001)
On the postcolony - mbembe
globalisation and its discontents - stiglitz
a secular age - taylor
culture and imperialism - Said
the immortal life of henrietta lacks - skloot
globalisation and its discontents - stiglitz
a secular age - taylor
culture and imperialism - Said
the immortal life of henrietta lacks - skloot
March 17, 2026 at 1:51 PM
On the postcolony - mbembe
globalisation and its discontents - stiglitz
a secular age - taylor
culture and imperialism - Said
the immortal life of henrietta lacks - skloot
globalisation and its discontents - stiglitz
a secular age - taylor
culture and imperialism - Said
the immortal life of henrietta lacks - skloot
Open Access UCL Research: Jurisdemocracy: An Approach to Constitutionalism in the Postcolony discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
Jurisdemocracy: An Approach to Constitutionalism in the Postcolony
-
UCL Discovery
UCL Discovery is UCL's open access repository, showcasing and providing access to UCL research outputs from all UCL disciplines.
discovery.ucl.ac.uk
March 2, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Open Access UCL Research: Jurisdemocracy: An Approach to Constitutionalism in the Postcolony discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10...
ICYMI: Sara Salem, 'Gramsci in the Postcolony: Hegemony and Anticolonialism in Nasserist Egypt' - shows how colonialism and anticolonialism were central to the formation of Nasserist hegemony. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
February 20, 2026 at 9:08 PM
ICYMI: Sara Salem, 'Gramsci in the Postcolony: Hegemony and Anticolonialism in Nasserist Egypt' - shows how colonialism and anticolonialism were central to the formation of Nasserist hegemony. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
I had thought of them, although we don't really know each other, but I think it might be a bit off topic :S It's a hard one. It's queer/trans but it's also deeply about the postcolony and legal history. I'm starting to think about subject specialists in the areas I write about in the book now.
February 18, 2026 at 11:16 AM
I had thought of them, although we don't really know each other, but I think it might be a bit off topic :S It's a hard one. It's queer/trans but it's also deeply about the postcolony and legal history. I'm starting to think about subject specialists in the areas I write about in the book now.
Thrilled to see this thoughtful and generous review of my book! Thank you so much Mohammad Zahidul Islam for this wonderful review!
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RCGXE...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RCGXE...
Rogues in the Postcolony: narrating extraction and itinerancy in India
Published in Global South Literary Studies (Ahead of Print, 2026)
www.tandfonline.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Thrilled to see this thoughtful and generous review of my book! Thank you so much Mohammad Zahidul Islam for this wonderful review!
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RCGXE...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/RCGXE...
Kevin Okoth did a very good essay on Mbembe in @lrb.co.uk -- taking this book as starting point. It functions as a useful, sometimes sceptical guide to a range of his thinking. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Kevin Okoth · The Pessimist’s Optimist: Beyond the Postcolony
Achille Mbembe is the pessimist’s optimist: he delivers a devastating analysis of the contemporary moment while never...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Kevin Okoth did a very good essay on Mbembe in @lrb.co.uk -- taking this book as starting point. It functions as a useful, sometimes sceptical guide to a range of his thinking. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...