Research On The Process Of Modern African Historiography

In recent years, China and Africa have been actively exploring the revitalization of their civilizations. To achieve the goal, what should their do? What steps should China and Africa take jointly to realize the rejuvenation of these two regions? Revitalization is by no means return to the ancients, instead it is the unification of cultural inheritance and innovation. Besides, since historiography is the core of culture, then the revitalization of Africa requires not merely the unification of cultural inheritance and innovation but the unification of these two things in historiography field as well. The paper by studying on the historical process and modern African historiography is expected to explore the influence of African historiography posed on the revitalization of Africa.Modern Africa historiography was originated from imperialist historiography which generated during the colonial period by western countries. During that age, in order to impose a psychological inferiority on original inhabitants on these colonies so as to maximize their colonial interests, western powers carried out a array of colonization methods on ideology and thoughts. They falsified to label Africa as a continent with no history. And even worse, they consecrated themselves as the pushers of all major revolutions happened in African history. The views can be experienced in the Hermite Hypothesis.In 1950s and 1960s, many African national liberalization and independent movements took place and after that a large number of new countries were established. These matters declared the equality of African and European (the black and the white) politically. However, to be independent politically was the first step to the actual African independence. To eliminate the psychological inferiority engraved in Africans was also needed. In other words, the equality of African and European (the black and the white) should be testified ideologically. Such elimination should depend on powerful cultural confidence which stems from extensive civilization and profound history of its own. Hence, the new historiography studies after the independence ofAfrican nations have attached its major focus on finding the time-honored African history and civilization. The New historiography is an extreme opposition to all the misunderstandings about African in the colonial historiography which conceives the thoughts that Africa is a no-history continent. Conversely, the New historiography embraces the view that Africa did have a history and what’s more it was a very long one. The imperialist historiography holds the thoughts all the major revolution happened on Africa were pushed by European while according to the New historiography, Africans were the positive pushers of all major revolution happened on this continent. Imperialist historiography believed that Africa had no history for no written historical materials could be found about African while the New historiography deems the oral traditions is the unique form of Africans to preserve their history and these oral traditions could be materials for Africa historiography study. The history department of the Ibadan University of Nigeria is clear demonstration to the relating characteristics of the New historiography. Additionally, the UNESCO General History of Africa can best epitomize African New historiography.In 1970s, the African governments confronted serious problems in the field of economic development, industrialization and national conformity. To address these problems, a new kind of history which crosses the border of political history must be introduced and decisive factors hidden in the field of social and economic order must be found. African historiography adopted the dependency theory and the underdevelopment theory to interpret the development dilemma at that time in Africa. What’s more, they analyze the reason for why Africa could not be developed to the full extent by utilizing the class theory of Marxism. At the same time, this historiography criticized the nationalistic historiography which placed undue emphasis on the study of political history. The branch of economic history is the best demonstration to the study contents and study method of African historiography in 1970s.In 1980s and 1990s, the economic recession and political turbulence took place in most African countries, even though they had carried out structural adjustment plans. Facing these dilemmas, African historian started to question about the applicability of neoliberalism which was hiding from the structural adjustment plans posed by western countries. They tried to discover a new historiography that can solve African problems in a more effective manner, proceeding from the reality of African society. The main feature of this new historiography is to criticize the simple single African image of "otherness" constructed by western countries. In addition, it encouraged the study on the variety and complexity of African society.In 21st century, Africa is facing a future of both developments and dangers. The major focus of its international relations transferred from European countries to BRICS. In response to these changes, the African historiography study has a tendency to concentrate mostly on global history, regional history, BRICS and the methods to revitalize Africa.Through the study of modern African historical process, the paper comes to the conclusion that the past of Africa is not only the main study content of African historiography but it is also the main content of African revitalization. In this case, the development process of modern African historiography itself belongs to the ever-improving African revitalization. Meanwhile, the development of modern African historiography has an positive effort on the African revitalization. This effort can be illustrated in the following items:first, through African historiography, we can study its civilization. The essence of African revitalization lies in the rejuvenation of its own culture, and the prerequisite of revitalization is to figure out what civilization did Africa have and how did these civilizations come into being. Second, historiography is of help to manage a tailor-made revitalization road for Africa. Through the comprehensive analytical investigation of western development process, we can absorb the essence and reject the dross of each other to provide positive examples for the realization of African revitalization. Third, studying the history that Africans share will help them to cultivate and strengthen the sense of identity and belonging of their continent Africa and enhance the national spirit of Africans to revitalize Africa hand by hand. Last, in the process of historiography study, African historiography has equipped itself with outstanding traditions of proceeding from the reality and pursuing solution to problems. These traditions will encourage African historians to shoulder the mission of the age---the revitalization of Africa.