From Myth to Reality: African Philosophy at Century-End

Abstract

ing, investigation and debate. Earlier, contributions of such African philoso? phers as Tertullian, Origen, St. Augustine, and, more recently, Anton Wilhelm Amo were mostly absorbed into philosophical discourses that addressed and went on to constitute significant aspects of the Western tra? dition in philosophy and related disciplines. But the end of European col? onization of Africa in the twentieth century has enabled African scholars generally and philosophers particularly to pursue consciously and at times vigorously Africans' cultural freedom. As we know and debate them today, several key issues in African philosophy are a critical part of the wider post? colonial cultural critique that has occurred across the disciplines. Many of these issues may continue to address what some continue to perceive as Africans' need for total cultural independence. Africans' practice of phi? losophy in the postcolonial period has made it possible to reconsider many philosophical issues and problems with the freshness of new comparative conceptual dimensions, making it possible for African philosophers to par? ticipate in a crosscultural philosophical discourse without sacrificing the