Regarding Mudimbe, Apter's article is a good start; an interesting
critique on Mudimbe's project. I would also *strongly* recommend
looking at vol. 14 no. 4 (Fall 1991) of the journal *Callaloo*. The
entire second half of the issue is devoted to readings of Mudimbe -
both his gnosis and his fiction - as well as two interviews that are
very enlightening.
Also, a reading of Foucault's *Discourse on Language* would prove
most valuable as would a reading of Appiah's *In My Father's House* -
the former as something of a model informing Mudimbe's project and
the latter as a variation on Mudimbe's project.
Manthia Diawara published an article in the journal *October* (#55 -
Winter 1990: 79-92) entitled "Reading Africa Through Foucault: V.Y.
Mudimbe's Reaffirmation of the Subject." Diawara deals mostly with
one of Mudimbe's earlier works - *L'odeur du pere* - which, if you
read French, comes to me highly recommended.
I also wouldn't neglect some of Mudimbe's earlier published materials to
help illustrate both what he intends to do and how his ideas have changed
over time.