Tribute to Valentin Mudimbe: Unmaking the Archive

The work of Valentin-Yves Mudimbe has profoundly shaped how we think, teach, and imagine the possibilities of knowledge. His reflections on the colonial library, on the making and unmaking of "Africa" as a category, and on the labor of critique, remain foundational across disciplines. At Duke University-where Mudimbe's presence, writings, and mentorship have left a lasting imprint-there is both an intellectual and ethical imperative to honor this legacy. Tribute to Valentin Mudimbe: Unmaking the Archive brings together scholars, students, and readers whose work has been shaped-directly or indirectly-by Mudimbe's thought. By gathering we affirm Mudimbe's continued presence within the life of this institution and acknowledge the unique role Duke has played in the circulation of his ideas. Above all, the colloquium honors a thinker who taught us that critique must be both generous and rigorous, that concepts must be unsettled before they can be renewed, and that the task of thought is never completed. In celebrating Mudimbe, we celebrate the ongoing work of imagining otherwise. RSVP for in-person event: https://duke.is/mudimbe Or register for Zoom option: https://duke.is/mudimbe-zoom Program: Arrivals and Lunch (11:00AM - 12:00PM) Welcome By Khwezi Mkhize (12:00PM - 12:05PM) Panel 1: Reflections on Mudimbe (12:05PM-1:20 PM) Moderator: Anne-Maria Makhulu Michael Hardt, Duke University Tsitsi Jaji, Duke University Gregson Davis, Duke University Achille Mbembe, Wits University (Zoom) Tea Break: 1:20 - 1:30PM Panel 2: Unmaking the Archive (1:30PM - 2:50PM) Moderator: Unglid Paul Justin Bisanswa, University of Laval Nadia Yala Kisukidi, New York University (Zoom) Alírio Karina, University of Warwick (Zoom) Tea Break: 2:50PM - 3:00PM Panel 3: Beyond the Colonial Library (3:00PM - 4:20 PM) Moderator, Michaëlle Vilmont Salim Abdelmajid, University of Toulouse Ainehi Edoro, University of Wisconsin-Madison Kirk Sides, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tea Break: 4:20PM - 4:30PM Closing (4:30 PM - 5:00PM) Felwine Sarr, Thanks and Closing Remarks General conversation Co-sponsors: John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute, Black Archival Imagination Lab, Concilium on Southern Africa, Ecologies of Knowledge, Duke Literature Program, The Fredric Jameson Institute for Critical Theory, Africa Initiative, Romance Studies