HED4805 Assignment 3 Semester 1 2026 – Due 10 August 2026

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HED4805 Assignment 3 Semester 1 2026 – Due 10 August 2026

Due date: 10 August 2026
Unique assignment number:
100 marks

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
transformed into the African Union (AU), which aimed to unite its fifty-three member-states
politically, socially and economically. The AU intended to address the old African problems

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)