Reinventing the African University: From Epistemic Decolonization to the Co-Construction of Transformative Knowledge

This article explores the necessity of reinventing the African university to make it a genuine driver of the continent's societal transformation. It highlights the dynamics of symbolic, material, and epistemic violence that have long hindered the development of these institutions, often confining them to the reproduction of disconnected Western academic models. To overcome this problematic legacy, the article proposes to draw on two complementary theoretical frameworks: Mode 4 of knowledge production and the Decuple Helix model. Mode 4 invites universities to adopt a transdisciplinary and engaged approach, co-constructing knowledge with a diversity of actors to address concrete issues. The Decuple Helix, on the other hand, advocates the development of multisectoral partnerships within open innovation ecosystems, where the university plays a role of orchestrator and facilitator. The article then presents several pioneering initiatives undertaken by African universities, such as Cheikh Anta Diop or Stellenbosch, which illustrate the ability of these institutions to reinvent themselves by valuing local knowledge, anchoring in community realities, and engaging in co-creation processes of innovative solutions. Finally, the article concludes on the need for African universities to position themselves as genuine catalysts of the continent's societal transformation, overcoming colonial legacies and becoming spaces for the production of knowledge rooted in African realities. This ambitious reinvention requires the development of new governance, organization, and evaluation modalities, promoting greater autonomy and increased engagement with local communities.