African scholars of international relations are obliged to interpret the world they live in for the benefit of Africans. This obligation arises from the privileged position they occupy in their social environment. In undertaking this public service, and the associated task of building responsive capacity, they must be clear about their paradigmatic lenses. They cannot be indifferent to Africa's history of slavery, colonialism, and empire. It is preferable to use – or develop – African-inspired theoretical lenses. If they don't, they risk reproducing Eurocentric worldviews shaped overwhelmingly by their social scientists.
Prof Anthoni van Nieuwkerk's introductory remarks while delivering his inaugural lecture on 17 February 2023 at Unisa.
