#African Time: Making the Future Legible

The notion that Africans lack a sense of future was extensively debated following John Mbiti’s African Religions and Philosophy (1969) has since entered the scholarly popular discourse as fixed topos which we label #African time (‘Europeans have watches, time’). most recent references to are found in vision reports many states non-governmental organisations (NGOs) assert demand for Africa from members societies. While homogenised past-oriented ‘African time’ been largely abandoned academia, appears be an accepted enactable among policy makers, state planners NGO workers. This article provides examples this phenomenon it extends James Scott’s (1998) idea, authorities tend make its citizens ‘legible’ order govern them, explain tenaciousness topos. almost exclusively about shaping space legibility, show there is similar process taking place with regards time, citizens, communities societies expected formulate visions if they want their interests ‘read’ by state, NGOs, donor agencies other powerful agents interact with. In making legible, plays major role.