IGWEBUIKE EPISTEMOLOGY: TOWARDS A DECOLONIZED THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

The establishment of the ontological status of African philosophy has engendered diverse areas of inquiry. One such area is African epistemology, which concerns itself with the African conceptualization of knowledge: its sources, validity, and function. The present study on Igwebuike epistemology distinguishes itself by offering a challenging synthesis of various but interconnected epistemological perspectives within African traditions. It is a culturally grounded epistemology that prioritizes context and particular cultural experience, thereby interpreting and comprehending reality through African complementary cultural categories. While much has been written on epistemology, African epistemology has received limited attention. As such, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of African epistemology, with a specific focus on Igwebuike epistemology. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that African people possess a distinct epistemology that can be explicated. While relying on the Igwebuike theoretical framework as a foundation, the study employs the hermeneutic, thematic, and analytic modes of inquiry for the articulation of ideas. The research findings of this paper have the potential to enrich the body of literature on African epistemology. It posits that African people possess a unique epistemology that is relational, holistic, and complementary in character.