Dismantling Neo-Colonialism at the (South) Afrikan University

Neocolonialism, known as the last, most dangerous, stage of imperialism, refers to official state independence accompanied by compromised domestic sovereignty owing to externally facilitated economic policy. In the university context, neocolonialism can be defined as Afrikanised colonialism, present in university structures, curriculum, research practices, and institutional culture, aimed at preserving colonial higher education mandates. One example is the piecemeal decolonial-washing strategies that universities in (South) Afrika adopt in response to calls for decolonisation and Afrocentric knowledge creation. These strategies include fragmented decolonisation seminars, top-down superficial approaches to Afrocentric curriculum development, and disappear-the-Native tactics. The chapter aims to contribute to the existing literature on neocolonialism in higher education by focusing on how neocolonial practices prevail at South Afrikan universities. Using critical race ethnography, in line with four of the five main tenets of critical race theory, the chapter outlines existing neocolonial practices in South Afrikan higher education, using current literature and reflective, critical analysis. Thereafter, the chapter emphasises practical ways to dismantle neocolonial practices in order to invigorate the Afrikan curriculum, advance the Afrocentric research agenda and promote inclusive and mindful institutional culture. Finally, the potential of Indigenous and endogenous knowledge systems to dismantle neocolonialism at (South) Afrikan universities is explored.