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Recognizing the Value of the African Indigenous Knowledge System: The Case of Ubuntu and Restorative Justice

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Abstract

It is often wrongly believed that the African indigenous knowledge system has no value. Yet prior to colonialism Africa had a strong civilization, which can still be relied on today to secure peace and justice, for example. The aim of this chapter is to uncover the merits of Africa’s indigenous system in post-colonial era. To this end the chapter unpacks the African philosophy of Ubuntu of “togetherness” to demonstrate its relevance for contemporary restorative justice. In its analysis, the chapter relies on the role of Ubuntu in shaping a harmonious and peaceful post-apartheid South Africa and postgenocide Rwanda. It finds out that the notwithstanding some challenges, Ubuntu is a core value that should be relied on in seeking peace and justice in Africa.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Commission for Gender Equality, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Mofihli Teleki

  2. Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI), University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa

    Serges Djoyou Kamga

Authors
  1. Mofihli Teleki
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  2. Serges Djoyou Kamga
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Correspondence to Serges Djoyou Kamga .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

    Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba

  2. University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Adeshina Afolayan

  3. Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria

    Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

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Teleki, M., Kamga, S.D. (2020). Recognizing the Value of the African Indigenous Knowledge System: The Case of Ubuntu and Restorative Justice. In: Oloruntoba, S., Afolayan, A., Yacob-Haliso, O. (eds) Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Development in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34304-0_16

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