Introduction: Ethics on the African Continent

Abstract

Approximately one third of all human languages are spoken on the African continent. This means that there exist at least 1500 different languages in Africa, with a corresponding tribal and ethnic diversity. While some of these languages are spoken and understood across national borders, every African state is host to at least a few but often a large number of different languages that are not spoken and understood by all of its citizens (see Hofmeier & Mehler 2004: 271, Sprachen). This vast linguistic, tribal and ethnic diversity makes it even more surprising that there are many commonalities and points of agreement with regard to ‘ethnic morality’ — that is, traditional African ethics. While there exists no single unified ‘African ethic’ or ‘African moral outlook’, there are nonetheless certain core ideas that appear with astonishing regularity across African (especially sub-Saharan) societies and cultures.