Final answer:
Africans are referred to as 'Children of Herodotus' by Wole Soyinka to address the historical framing of African identity which has often been influenced by early Western historians like Herodotus. Soyinka's term critiques how the narratives from such figures have contributed to Eurocentric perspectives that continue to shape the perception of Africa and its peoples.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wole Soyinka, a notable Nigerian writer, refers to Africans as the 'Children of Herodotus' to acknowledge and critique the African identity through a historical lens. The term stems from the Greek historian Herodotus, known as the 'father of history,' who traveled to the Nile Valley and recognized the African aspects of Egyptian civilization in the fifth century BCE. This reference by Soyinka can be seen as a critical response to the enduring influence of ancient texts in shaping contemporary perceptions of Africa and its people. By calling Africans 'Children of Herodotus,' Soyinka might be alluding to the way African history and identity have been framed or misframed through the narratives of early Western historians like Herodotus and the consequential Eurocentric perspectives that persist as a result of such histories.
Egyptian civilization, for example, is frequently understood through the context of its interactions and comparisons with European societies, often being separated from the rest of Africa in both scholarly and public discourse. This has created a perception that diminishes the significance and autonomy of African heritage and contributions to human civilization. The label points to the need for reevaluating African histories and identities without the biases found in colonial and Eurocentric narratives, which frequently distorted and undermined African societies.