The African interior was experienced by Europeans as a realm outside history and purpose.

Evidence

The world of native savages was a perfect setting for men who had escaped the reality of civilization. Under a merciless sun, surrounded by an entirely hostile nature, they were confronted with human beings who, living without the future of a purpose and the past of an accomplishment, were as incomprehensible as the inmates of a madhouse. “The prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us—who could tell? We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be, before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 496

Categorization

• XREF: Connects directly to the reader’s stated toolkit on the construction of the ‘Other’ as outside history — this is Arendt’s framing of natives as inhabiting a timeless, purposeless realm that Europeans defined themselves against. — connects to: Hegelian thought framed Africa as outside history to justify colonial supremacy. — Tavengwa Gwekwerere, Davie E. Mutasa, and Kudakwashe Chitofiri, Settlers, Rhodesians, and Supremacists:…, 37