AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY AND THE PROBLEM OF LANGUAGE

Abstract

One of the enquiries that have engaged the minds of African philosophers is the problem of language in African philosophy. This piece argues that the problem of language as observed by some thinkers is not the plurality of languages in Africa, neither is it the presence of oral tradition in the history of the documentation of African Ideas. It rather asserts that the problem of language in African philosophy lies in the impact of colonialism on African languages and the need for a cultural renaissance so as to better express African philosophy in a language that profoundly mirrors African realities. While employing the expository and critical method of enquiry, it argues that African philosophy would mirror African realities more if they are conveyed in African languages.