Meaning & use
Afrocentric
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Focused on African people, history and culture, often as a deliberate alternative to a viewpoint that centers Europe.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: an Afrocentric curriculum. Can also follow a verb: the course is Afrocentric.
Patterns
- an Afrocentric view of something
- an Afrocentric approach to something
The school introduced an Afrocentric curriculum that begins with ancient Egypt and Mali.
Her Afrocentric reading of world history surprised many students.
The museum takes an Afrocentric approach to its exhibitions.
adjectivebefore a noun
Inspired by African styles, patterns or traditions, especially in clothing, hair, art and design.
Grammar: Used before a noun to describe style: Afrocentric fashion.
Patterns
- Afrocentric fashion
- Afrocentric design
She wore an Afrocentric print dress with bold colors.
The shop sells Afrocentric jewelry made by local artists.
His Afrocentric designs mix traditional patterns with modern shapes.
Common combinations
- Afrocentric perspective
- The book offers an Afrocentric perspective on trade and empire.
- Afrocentric curriculum
- The district adopted an Afrocentric curriculum for history classes.
- Afrocentric art
- The gallery displayed Afrocentric art from several countries.
- Afrocentric fashion
- Afrocentric fashion is popular at the summer festival.
- Afrocentric approach
- Her Afrocentric approach to teaching changed how students saw history.
Synonyms and how they differ
- African-centered
- This is a plainer, more descriptive phrase and is often preferred in education, while Afrocentric is the more widely known term.
- Pan-African
- This stresses unity among African peoples and nations, whereas Afrocentric stresses placing African culture at the center of a viewpoint.
- African-inspired
- This usually describes style borrowed from African design, while Afrocentric also covers a whole way of thinking.
Opposites
Word family
- Afrocentrism noun
- the view that puts African culture at the center
- Afrocentricity noun
- the quality of being Afrocentric
- Afrocentrist noun
- a person who supports Afrocentrism
- Eurocentric adjective
- focused on Europe and European culture
Commonly confused: Afrocentric or Afro-centric? Afrocentric or Africanist?
Afrocentric vs Afro-centric
This hyphenated form appears sometimes, but Afrocentric is the standard spelling.
Afrocentric vs Africanist
An Africanist is a scholar who studies Africa, while Afrocentric describes a point of view.
Practice
The teacher chose an ___ approach to history, starting with the kingdoms of West Africa instead of ancient Rome.
Choose one answer.
An Afrocentric approach puts African history at the center. Eurocentric and Anglocentric focus on Europe and England, and egocentric means self-centered.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Afrocentric”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.