The African Philosophical Discourse on Development: Towards Decolonial Modernity

The dissertation provides a qualitative exploration of the philosophical, political, and economic implications of the debate between ethnophilosophers and professional (mainstream) African philosophers in the postcolonial African philosophical debate. Ethnophilosophers and professional African philosophers are concerned with the modernization and development of Africa, given the backdrop of the historic experience of colonial dehumanization and the subjugation of indigenous African values, beliefs, and traditions. Both groups believe in the necessity of decolonization, indigenization, development, and modernization as primary objectives. However, they differ significantly in their approaches. Ethnophilosophers claim to achieve these objectives through cultural revivalism or a return to the original values that characterized African societies before the colonial encounter. Professional philosophers argue that considering the diversity and plurality of African cultures and communities owing to the various historical and cultural ties both within and outside the continent over time, it is impossible to single out an essential African identity that we need to revive. Instead, it is more beneficial and foresighted to critically engage all the values and traditions of knowledge in the world to attain freedom and dignity without breaking our ties with our lived experiences. According to professional philosophers, this endeavor demands the cultivation of rationality, the critical human spirit, and science. Both groups of philosophers point at each other with accusations of Eurocentrism, each boldly sidelining the other for a lack of a genuine Afrocentric spirit. This dissertation employs an interdisciplinary methodology to examine, assess, and interpret the philosophical, political, and economic aspects of the debate between these philosophers. In this dissertation, I aim to advocate for a third approach that addresses the limitations of both perspectives by introducing the concept of a pluriversalistic and dialogical strategy/approach to decolonization, indigenization, development, and modernization.