Abstract:

This article discusses the possibilities of a new historiography on Sub-Saharan Africa, a relatively new study field in Turkey. Following the subaltern studies’ path, it aims at contributing to African studies’ literature in Turkey, a field which is mainly dominated by strategic research centers and, therefore, stamped by a narrow anti-western/ anti-European stand. Thus, this article proposes exploring the possibilities of a better understanding of Africa with its historical specifities. Within this framework, it is composed of three chapters. The first chapter “Foreknowledge: Africa at the Limit of the World and the World-History,” furnishes basic information on the pre-colonial Africa and presents the main problems of African historiography. The second chapter “At the Limit of Historiography: Subaltern Studies” explores the main characteristics of the latter and then, focuses on their contribution to a African historiography. The third chapter “Slavery in Pre-Colonial Africa” deals with the internal slavery in pre-colonial Africa as a form of power/ power structure. By doing so, it mainly aims at understanding the basis of colonial power structures and thus, contributing to a African historiography.

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