A scientific day dedicated to Yves Mudimbe announced at the University of Kinshasa

Kinshasa, June 15^th, 2025 (CPA). – A scientific day dedicated to the work of Congolese professor and writer Yves Mudimbe, who died on April 22^nd, 2025, has been announced for Tuesday, Jun 17^th at the University of Kinshasa (Unikin), capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CPA has learned on Friday  from the organiser. ‘We are pleased to announce that a scientific day dedicated to the work of Professor Yves Mudimbe of DRC is scheduled for Tuesday, Jun 17^th at the University of Kinshasa on the theme: “Yves Mudimbe, thinking Africa, writing the world”,’ has indicated Grace Kiyombo, coordinator of ‘Mille collines’, the cultural association organising the event.  The idea, she has said, is to (re)discover the work, thinking and intellectual impact of Yves Mudimbe through a day centred around a conference, a documentary exhibition and a stage performance inspired by his major book entitled ‘The Invention of Africa’. For Grace Kiyombo, the work of the late Professor Yves Mudimbe describes the thinking of the African continent and its position in the world. ‘His work sharply questions the very foundations of our way of thinking about Africa, its place in the world, and the narratives through which it has been invented. Yves Mudimbe embodies lucid African intellectuality, a permanent dialogue with African traditions, Western philosophy and global issues of knowledge,’ she has said. Designed as an intellectual, artistic and sensory immersion for students, researchers, teachers, artists, critics and anyone passionate about ideas, literature and critical thinking, this day of study, creation and reflection will be led by three speakers: Professors Okolo Okonda, Makolo Musuasua and Ngoma Binda Grace Kiyombo. A native of Jadotville (Likasi) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yves-Valentin Mudimbe is considered as one of the most influential African thinkers of his generation. During his lifetime, he has received several honorary distinctions, including honorary doctorates from Paris 7 Diderot University in 1997, from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in 2006 and from the University of Lubumbashi in 2019.