A critique of Abanuka's Myth and the African Universe

Abstract

ABSTRACT In his book, Myth and the African universe, Abanuka explores the meaning of myth as understood by Africans and in particular the indigenous populations of West Africa. His exploration proceeds from philosophy. One of the major threads of the meaning of myth running throughout the text is the submission that myth in African philosophy is tied inextricably to religion. This argument is problematic. It posits ‘God’ without providing justification for the use of the capital letter ‘G’. Although the roots of monotheism lie deeply embedded in ancient African philosophy, the prevalent reality of ‘the gods’, ‘ancestors’ or, better still, the living-dead in African philosophy is additional ground for questioning the use of the capital letter ‘G’. Furthermore, Abanuka's religionisation of myth takes little account of the relationship between myth and symbol. These and related issues in Abanuka's exposition are the subject of critique in the present essay.