Abstract
Humanism is, by its very nature, a term with transcultural and even universal appeal, as it invokes the inherent qualities supposedly possessed by all members of the human species. Yet what qualifies human beings generally as “human” or even “humane” may differ from one society or cultural framework to another. This applies within Africa as well as outside it. In this paper, I sketch out some comparative features from across the continent, using the term “African humanism” as pragmatic shorthand in which the adjective “African” points to a variety of regional and cultural contexts that qualify and determine the range of visions and versions of humanism that have been meaningful in, or for, Africa (for alternative discussions, see Macamo, 2009, Lategan, 2009).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Bibliography
Biko, S., I write what I like. (London: Penguin, 1988 (orig. 1978)).
Broodryk, J., Understanding South Africa: the uBuntu way of living. (Waterkloof: UBuntu School of Philosophy, 2007).
Chakrabarty, D. “Humanism in a global world”, in J. Rüsen and H. Laass (eds), Humanism in intercultural perspective: experiences and expectations. (Bielefeld: Transcript, 2009) 23–36.
Cook, M., Commanding right and forbidding wrong in Islamic Thought. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).
Eze, E.Ch., Achieving our humanity: the idea of the postracial future. (New York: Routledge, 2001).
Fardon, R., Between God, the dead and the wild. Chamba interpretations of religion and ritual. (Edinburgh University Press, 1990).
Ferguson, James 2006. Global Shadows: Africa in the neoliberal world order. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
Graness, A. and K. Kresse (eds). Sagacious reasoning: Henry Odera Oruka in memoriam. (Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 1997).
Gyekye, K. and K. Wiredu., Person and community. Ghanaian philosophical studies I. (Washington, 1992).
Hallen, B.. The good, the bad, and the beautiful: discourse about value in Yoruba culture. (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2000).
Hountondji, P., African philosophy: myth and reality. (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996 (orig. 1976)).
James, W., Listening ebony. (Oxford: University Press, 1989).
Kagame, A., La philosophie bantu- rwandaise de l’Etre. (Brussels, 1956).
Kagame, A., Sprache und Sein: die Ontologie der Bantu Zentralafrikas. (Heidelberg, 1985).
Jahn, J., Muntu: the new African culture. (New York: Grove Press, 1961 (orig. 1958)).
Kaunda, K., Humanism in Zambia and a guide to its implementation. Part 1. Lusaka: Zambia Information Services (1968).
Kaunda, K., Humanism in Zambia and a guide to its implementation. Part 2. Lusaka: Zambia Information Services (1974).
Kenyatta, J., Suffering without bitterness: the founding of the Kenya nation. (Nairobi: East African Publishing House, 1968).
Kresse, K., Philosophising in Mombasa: knowledge, Islam and intellectual practice on the Swahili coast. (Edinburgh University Press, 2007).
Kresse, K., “Knowledge and intellectual practice in a Swahili context: ‘wisdom’ and the social dimensions of knowledge”, in Africa: Journal of the International African Institute vol. 79 (1) (2009) 148–67.
Lategan, B.C., “Exclusion and inclusion in the quest for a ‘new’ humanism: a perspective from Africa”, in J. Rüsen and H. Laass (eds), Humanism in intercultural perspective: experiences and expectations. (Bielefeld: Transcript, 2009) 79–90.
Macamo, E., “Africa and Humanism”, in J. Rüsen and H. Laass (eds), Humanism in intercultural perspective: experiences and expectations. (Bielefeld: Transcript, 2009) 65–77.
MacGaffey, W. Religion and society in central Africa. (Chicago University Press, 1986).
Mbeki, T., “On African renaissance”, in African Philosophy, vol. 12/1, (1998) 5–10.
Moi, D. a.T., Kenyan African nationalism. Nyayo philosophy and principles. (Nairobi: MacMillan, 1986).
Nassir, A. Utenzi wa Mtu ni Utu (edited and introduced by Mohamed Kamal Khan). (Nairobi: MacMillan, 1979).
Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Decolonizing the mind. (Nairobi: Heinemann, 1986).
Nkrumah, K., Conscienscism: philosophy and ideology for de- colonisation. (London: Panaf, 1978 (orig. 1964)).
Nyerere, J., Freedom and development: a selection from writings and speeches. (Oxford University Press, 1973).
Oruka, H. Odera, Trends in African philosophy. (Nairobi, 1990 (1978)).
Oruka, H. Odera, Sage philosophy. Indigenous thinkers and modern debate on African philosophy. (Narobi: ACTS, 1991).
Oruka, H. Odera, “Philosophy and Humanism in Africa”, in idem, Practical Philosophy: in search of an ethical minimum. (Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers, 1997), 138–145.
Presbey, G., “African sage philosophy and Socrates: midwifery and method”, International Philosophical Quarterly 42/2, Issue 166, (2002) 177–92.
Ramose, M.B., African philosophy through ubuntu. (Harare: Mond Books, 1999).
Rosberg, C.G. and H. Friedland (eds). African socialism. (Stanford University Press, 1964).
Sartre, J.P., “Introduction” in Orphee Noire. (Paris, 1972).
Senghor, L.S., Liberte I: Négritude et humanisme. (Paris, 1964).
Tempels, P., Bantu philosophy. (Paris: Presence Africaine, 1959 (orig. 1945)).
van Binsbergen, W., “Ubuntu and the globalisation of south African thought and society”, in idem, Intercultural encounters: African and anthropological lessons towards a philosophy of interculturality. (Muenster: Lit- Verlag, 2003) 427–57.
Wiredu, K., Cultural universals and particulars. (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1996).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2011 Kai Kresse
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kresse, K. (2011). “African Humanism” and a Case Study from the Swahili Coast. In: Dierksmeier, C., Amann, W., von Kimakowitz, E., Spitzeck, H., Pirson, M. (eds) Humanistic Ethics in the Age of Globality. Humanism in Business Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230314139_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230314139_15
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-32381-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-31413-9
eBook Packages: Palgrave Business & Management CollectionBusiness and Management (R0)