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Accepted Paper:
Afrophony and the language of African philosophy: reflection on problems and prospects
Anthony Okeregbe (University of Lagos)
Paper short abstract:
Drawing insights from theorists like Lee-Whorf, Vygotsky and others, this paper explores selected works of Sophie Oluwole and Alena Rettova as cases in point to examine the problems and prospects of doing African Philosophy in African languages and what they portend for African Studies.
Paper long abstract:
Some recent reflections on African Studies have tended to present African Philosophy as the foundation upon which a proper understanding of contemporary African experiences could be laid. Proponents of this position have gone further to argue that a reconfiguration of African Studies could be attained in this sense. However, against the background of colonial linguistic determinism in Africa, one cannot speak of genuine African Philosophy—by which is meant the examination of the fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality in Africa and the ideas by which Africans live—without considering language as the vehicle of these assumptions and ideas as well as their investigation. In this regard, this paper explores selected works of Sophie Oluwole and Alena Rettova as cases in point to examine the problems and prospects of doing African Philosophy in African languages and what they portend for African Studies. This study adopts a qualitative research approach, relying on hermeneutical analysis in the examination of these selected works. Drawing insights from theorists like Lee-Whorf, Vygotsky and others who posit an intrinsic connection between experience, thought and language, this paper argues that multiplicity of language use in African Philosophy reflects the multiple expressions of the African experience. It argues further that whilst doing African philosophy in African language may be viable, it also raises some critical questions.
Keywords: Afrophone Philosophy, Linguistic determinism, hermeneutics, African Philosophy,
Language issues: reconfiguring language use in African studies [initiated by the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos, with Africa Multiple Centre of Excellence, Bayreuth]
Session 1