African Psychology: Myth and Reality

Abstract

There is in Africa (not least in South Africa) an important debate amongst psychologists, as amongst philosophers, concerning the possibility of an indigenous African psychology. One version of the debate engages the proposition that “African psychology” is a myth, in the sense that there is no domain of knowledge that is unique to a particular geographical region and its people. Another version regards it as an obvious reality, in that there is a substantial body of psychological literature that originates in the African context and is engaged with African issues and problems. This paper enters the debate by suggesting that African psychology is both myth and reality, conceived in the above terms. In doing this, it takes its lead from the West African philosopher of the human sciences, Hountondji. It goes on to explore the work of Fanon, the Algerian psychoanalytic theorist of colonialism, and Nsamenang, the developmental psychologist from Cameroon, as instances of psychologists whose work demonstrates that psychology in Africa should not be conceived of as unique to the continent, but rather as universal psychology engaged with the problems and issues of Africa. Above all else, the paper stresses that the debate is an African debate, actively engaged in by psychologists and philosophers in Africa, rather that one between Africans and some other, non-African tradition.