Customer Reviews

Moving the Centre: Struggle for Cultural Freedoms

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This book is a must read for anyone concerned or struggling with the equality of others or themselves. It is a must read for anyone who thinks they know why minorities are the way they are. It is a must read for disentangling nearly 600 years of global imperialism. Ngugi's book is also a must read for understanding what is happening today, to all of us.

This book is compact yet dense with insight. The chapters inside this book examine the need for "re-centering" culture and establishing cultural freedom presently hindered by Eurocentrism, colonialism, and the "imperialism of language." The chapter on the "Imperialism of Language" is my favorite because here Ngugi carefully examines a cultural by-product of Eurocentrism and colonialism, that is, the loss of language. He writes that the world today is "dominated by a handful of languages," which is quite awesome considering the multitude of languages that prevailed, without outside dominance, prior to 600 years ago, or even 150 years ago.

This small review does little justice to this book that has been read and re-read by me for several years now, always finding something more, or understanding more with every new reading. I am writing this review because I am giving my copy of this book to my son. He is ready for it now, after reading other books I have suggested to him so that he might understand his roots and his present. I do not believe in lending out any book you are not willing to loose (many people have asked to read this book but I have never allowed it to leave my home). I am looking to replace it already, hence, arriving here at Amazon and this review.