History of Philosophy as a Problem: Our Case

Abstract

I claim in this chapter that although African philosophers have done a good and commendable job in their practice of the discipline, there is still a shortfall in the production of a tradition of philosophy that is self-sustaining as a dialogue among African philosophers themselves as suggested by Kwasi Wiredu and shown by Shaaban bin Robert. I argue that although African philosophers do not have to write in their vernaculars like Shaaban does in Kiswahili, the growth of debates among themselves on issues that resonate with regional and continental histories, experiences and issues would gradually give a sense of identity to African philosophical thought as relevant to place and times in the history of the peoples of the continent in their thoughts and practices of life. Wiredu has suggested that such philosophical tradition indigenous to Africa does not have to ignore broader philosophical problems even if they come from elsewhere as African philosophers engage other traditions, but translating the problems into local issues will help to build bridges to connect African people into dialogue with other traditions across the globe. Shaaban bin Robert, the Swahili poet and philosopher from Tanganyika (today’s Tanzania) has shown in some of his writings that local issues are not shielded from universal problems of thought either, so long as thinkers do not ignore the fact that good thinking takes place in universal terms or language. Applying these principles of thought is likely to save philosophy from being perceived primarily as a monological tool for self-preservation and justification of past deeds. Building a corpus of thought that is African in its historical and subject orientation requires a true dialogue amongst all its practitioners.