Nuttall's strict adherence to time-keeping meant that Mbembe was unable to respond to the questions and comments raised by the panel, to which he laughingly replied "Thank you for saving me from flagellation!"
He thanked the panelists for their "subtle, powerful criticism", after which he elaborated on the translation of the original French title, Critique de la raison nègre.
"'Nègre'," Mbembe related to the audience, translates to "an object which is bought or sold, or a currency through which the exchange is made."
After this powerful statement, Nuttall mentioned that WiSER has created a reading group, open to the public, in which books such as Critique of Black Reason will be discussed.
A recording of the discussion will be available soon.
Critique of Black Reason is published by Wits University Press.