The world lives with the falsehood that on planet earth, there is one universal correct way of being human, i.e., the Western way of thinking, of being and of doing, which is constructed as a one-size-fits-all model, the “default drive” for the entire world. The lecture focuses on some of the ways that this falsehood is constructed and sustained, focusing on its implications for Africa.  It highlights some of the mechanisms and technologies of power through which “universal” norms are constructed and spread across the continent, and also discusses the politics of knowledge and the autocratization of global knowledge production and knowledge acquisition. How can we democratize and decolonize the epistemic space?  In which ways can we talk back to “epistemological apartheid”? 

The Anton Wilhelm Amo Lecture is organized annually by MIASA at the University of Ghana. It aims at strengthening the visibility of MIASA on campus and beyond through a high-level annual lecture series, which would be a valued element in the CVs of African scholars in the social sciences and humanities. It is named after the 18th century philosopher from present-day Ghana who taught at the universities of Halle and Jena.

On 23 November 2022 MIASA held its second Amo lecture. This was given by Prof. Sylvia Tamale, feminist and academic from Uganda, who has just retired as professor of law from Makerere University. The lecture focused on "The Decolonizazion of Knowledge Production in Africa". Special Guest of Honour was His Excellency Daniel Krull, the German Ambassador to Ghana.

Press releases:

"Commodifying knowledge is criminal - Founding Dean of Makerere University's Law School", Daily Sun, 29th November, 2022

"Pan-African Approach necessary to improve continent's economy - Prof. Sylvia Tamale", Graphic Online, 25th November 2022.

"Midday Live", TV3 Ghana, 25th November 2022.