V. Y. Mudimbe

Valentin Y. Mudimbe (born 1941) is a polymathic philosopher, professor, and author of non-fiction books and articles about African culture, poems, and novels. He was born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). After stints at Haverford College and Stanford University, he now teaches at Duke University.

Education

*Junior College Degree, Lovanium University, Leopoldville (Kinshasa), Congo (1962)
*Diploma, Lovanium University, Kinshash, Congo (1964)
*BA, Lovanium University, Kinshasa (1966)
*Graduate Studies, University of Paris (1968)
*Ph. D. with High Honors, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (1970)

Interests

Mudimbe focuses most closely on phenomenology, structuralism, mythical narratives, and the practice and use of language. As a professor, he teaches classes on these topics, as wells as ancient Greek geography.

Books

*"L'Odeur Du Père" (1982)
*"The Invention of Africa" (1988)
*"Parables and Fables" (1991)
*"The Surreptitious Speech", editor (1992)
*"The Rift" (1993)
*"The Idea of Africa" (1994)
*"Tales of Faith" (1997)
*"Nations, Identities, Cultures", editor (1997)
*"Diaspora and Immigration", editor (1999)

External links

* [http://fds.duke.edu/db/aas/Literature/faculty/vmudimbe Duke University Department of Literature] - Dr. Mudimbe's faculty page at Duke University
* [http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2001050801 University of Cambridge] - lecture announcement which explains some of Mudimbe's beliefs (especially about the social sciences) and gives some biographical information
* [http://www.wheatonma.edu/Academic/AcademicDept/French/Erofile/archive/ero23.html Electronic Review of French and Italian Literary Essays] - review of Mudumbe's "The Invention of Africa" by a Northwestern University professor; touches on his philosophies