Textures of Power: Central Africa in the Long Twentieth Century

A multidisciplinary study of power in Central Africa

Central Africa has long been a fertile ground for engendering new concepts and innovative research, significantly influencing not only African studies but other fields as well. This edited volume offers groundbreaking, multidisciplinary reflections on power in Central Africa, from the Atlantic slave trade era to the present. By bringing together emerging and leading scholars, Textures of Power builds on rich epistemic legacies in African studies, opening new research avenues across history, anthropology, and cultural and political studies. It offers fresh perspectives on colonial and postcolonial power structures, drawing on new findings while critically engaging with earlier theoretical frameworks.

Employing the concept of "texture" as a red thread, the book showcases the study of power as an analytical tool in the humanities and the social sciences. It fosters dialogues between approaches to emotions and technology, colonialism and its aftermath, and non-humans and the invisible world. Drawing on stories about women, social rebellions, digital technologies, slavery, languages, forest management, charms, care and bio-medicine, urban life, radio, music, witchcraft, homosexuality, and environmental pollution, this volume emphasizes bottom-up, long-term approaches and local theories about power.
This work will appeal to students and scholars in African studies, colonial and postcolonial studies, and those interested in Africa's longue dur e history. It is also relevant to those studying power dynamics, cultural studies, queer and gender studies, and environmental humanities.

Ebook available in Open Access.

Contributing authors: Marcos Abreu Leit o de Almeida (Northwestern University), Philippe Ambata (vernacular oral historian), Alice At rianus-Owanga (Universit of Neuch tel), Sylvie Ayimpam (IMAF/Universit Aix-Marseille), Florence Bernault (Sciences Po Paris), Michel Bisa (Universit de Kinshasa), Fred Biyela (Universit Paris-Cit ), Jacky Bouju (Universit Aix-Marseille), Pedro Cerdeira (University of Geneva), Andrea Ceriana Mayneri (CNRS- Institut des mondes africains), Melchisedek Chetima (Universit du Qu bec Montr al), Maxime de Formanoir (Universit Libre de Bruxelles), Valentine Dewulf (State Archives of Belgium), Peter Geschiere (University of Amsterdam), Etienne Gontard (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), David Gordon (Bowdoin College), Charlotte Grabli (CNRS-CHS), Enid Guene (Ghent University), Beno t Henriet (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Emery Kalema (The Africa Institute, Sharjah), Neil Kodesh (University of Wisconsin, Madison), Johan Lagae (Ghent University), Margot Luyckfasseel (University of Antwerp), Brice Molo (Universit de Yaound I), Stephane Molong (Universit de Yaound I), Basile Ndjio (Universit de Douala), Rogers Orock (Lafayette College), Patrick Otim (Bates College), Iva Pesa (University of Groningen), Derek Peterson (University of Michigan), Katrien Pype (KU Leuven), Stephanie Rupp (City University of New York), Aidan Russell (Graduate Institute Geneva), Jacob Sabakinu () (University of Kinshasa), Rhiannon Stephens (Columbia University), Joseph Tonda (Universit Omar Bongo Libreville).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9462704597
• ISBN13: 9789462704596
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Leuven University Press
• Length: 600 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher