Unpacking African rhetorical theory in an African game

Abstract

African rhetoric usually stands accused of one basic charge: false equivalences. Scholars argue that the burgeoning field, for instance, heralds Afrocentricity to rival Eurocentricity. In responding to this concern, this article seeks to reimagine ways of conceptualizing African rhetoric on its own terms in order to propose an alternative concept termed as Afrifuge. Focusing on ampe, a traditional Ghanaian game, the paper demonstrates how scholars of African rhetoric can draw on unique tropes to think, speak, learn, and write about African rhetorical inventions and processes. The analysis brings to light significant rhetorical arguments when scholars closely examine the game from an Africanist perspective. These include a discovery of the laws of probability and calculus, critical thinking skills, multi-tasking, and agility. The overarching goal of the paper is to invite scholars to build a meta-theory of African rhetoric.