Sorcery, Totem, and Jihad in African Philosophy

In this significant new work in African Philosophy, Christopher Wise explores deconstruction's historical indebtedness to Egypto-African civilization and its relevance in Islamicate Africa today. He does so by comparing deconstructive and African thought on the spoken utterance, nothingness, conjuration, the oath or vow, occult sorcery, blood election, violence, circumcision, totemic inscription practices, animal metamorphosis and sacrifice, the Abrahamic, fratricide, and jihad. Situated against the backdrop of the Ansar Dine's recent jihad in Northern Mali, Sorcery, Totem and Jihad in African Philosophy examines the root causes of the conflict and offers insight into the Sahel's ancient, complex, and vibrant civilization. This book also demonstrates the relevance of deconstructive thought in the African setting, especially the writing of the Franco-Algerian philosopher Jacques Derrida.

Christopher Wise is Professor of English at Western Washington University, USA. His is an expert in Comparative Literature, Critical Theory and African Studies and is author of Derrida, Africa and the Middle East (2009).

Series Foreword

Introduction: Deconstructing Azawad
Chapter 1: The Plundering of Mali, Past and Present
Chapter 2: The African Trace
Chapter 3: The Sahelian Specter
Chapter 4: The Duty of Violence
Chapter 5: Nyama, Fratricide, and Reconciliation
Chapter 6: What Is To Be Done?
Epilogue: Zongo, Sankara, and the Burkinabe Revolution

Bibliography
Index