Introduction: The Value and Place of Philosophy in Education, Society, and Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

The above quote from J.S. Mbiti's seminal work on religion and philosophy (African religions and philosophy), underscores this book's understanding of the value and place of philosophy (conceptualized as religion by Mbiti) in the African continent. In his writings, the Kenyan philosopher argues that African philosophy is deeply embedded in the cultural, spiritual, and communal practices of African societies.² He rejects the notion that philosophy is confined to academic discourse or written texts; and instead insists that philosophy exists in African proverbs, myths, rituals, and social institutions, through which the African people express their worldview, their ethics, and their understanding of existence. This means, philosophy is not an “isolated activity,” but rather a lived reality, integral to how Africans relate to their world, their communities, and their notion of divine. It is inseparable from African man's everyday life and decision-making.³