Why decolonisation and re-Africanisation of Librarianship is not an option but a necessity for Africa?

Abstract

This conceptual paper investigates African Librarianship's role in decolonising the three key areas: library resources and services, education, training, and associations in Africa. The focus is more on how women professionals have contributed to the decolonization of libraries through their practical and literary work. Findings revealed that the cry for the re-Africanisation of libraries in South Africa can be traced to the "Zaaiman Report" of the 1980s. The results of the Zaaiman Report lamented the domination of Western ideologies as a deficiency in LIS resources, services, education, and training, hence the need for decolonisation. It was imperative that African Librarianship decolonises in line with the contextual needs of the library communities served, particularly indigenous communities of Africa; hence, Africology, UNESCO Declaration on Indigenous languages and IFLA Indigenous Matters Action Plan (2021-23) were adopted for this study.

Keywords: Decolonisation; African Librarianship; re-Africanisation; indigenous knowledge; and indigenous languages.