EDUCATION AND RELIGION: THE HABINGERS OF PEACE BUILDING IN AFRICA

Résumé

Africa is a nation/continent with rich cultural and historical heritage, legacies and civilization. However, the western presence on African soil in time was an unfortunate experience owing to its negative influences like enforced slavery, colonialism, western domination and exploitation. Also, neo-colonialism, imperialism/capitalism, individualism and inequality followed as the aftermath. Africans really encountered conflicting stances and dilemma of true African identity given the western domination on African socio-political and economic institutions. Today in Africa, there still appear to be more violence and conflicts than in the past looking at increasing cases of insurgencies or terrorism, xenophobia/racism, tribal and religious skirmishes and other non-active wars or cold wars within some nations. Education, as far as peace building in Africa is concerned, has really led many Africans out and is still leading them away from those factors that promote conflicts: ignorant, immorality, corruption, injustice, bad leadership and the likes. Education in its fundamentality forms, informs and reforms both individuals and African society at large. Through change of mentality (mental reformation), enlightenment/ re-orientation and ethical sanitization, individuals and indeed African nations are led into cultivation of African values like the value of hardwork, truth-telling, protection of life, communal living and indeed the value of peace, for all these lead to peace building. Again, Religion as an ideology is seen as a vehicle for peace in Africa and beyond. It helps a lot in the formation of (certain) conscience. The reconciliatory role of Religion is an enormous vehicle for peace. Finally, Religious education and evangelization were always aimed at peace and meaningful living. InterReligious or Inter–faith dialogues were aimed also at bringing lasting peace in Africa. Methodically, the paper is analytical as it critically analyzes the actual ferment of the concepts and categories.