Pascah Mungwini, "African Philosophy: Emancipation and Practice" (Bloomsbury, 2022)
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What is the central aim of Pascah Mungwini’s book *African Philosophy: Emancipation and Practice*?
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Welcome to New Books in Philosophy, a channel on the New Books Network. I'm Malcolm Keating. Today we'll be talking to Pasca Mumwini, author of African Philosophy Emancipation and Practice, published in twenty twenty two by Bloomsbury as part of their Introductions to World Philosophy series. Welcome to New Books in Philosophy, Pasca.
Yeah, thanks Malcolm and thank you for inviting me. I'm glad
you're looking forward to talking about your book, so let's get started. So your book, as the title suggests, is about African philosophy and it's part of an introductions to world philosophy series, but you're not writing like a survey or just an overview. Your book is doing something else. It's pretty interesting. So why don't we start there? What is your book's main goal and why did you think it was important to write?
Yeah. Thanks. Uh The main papers of the book I think if uh I turn to the title itself. It gives an idea of what I was uh seeking to achieve or accomplish. You will agree with me that African philosophy has been uh described as a bearer of a mission. And uh that mission has been articulated by a number of authors and it continues. to be defined to this day. So uh to put this into perspective Africa uh Africa itself is a Is a is a place with a a formidable history of its own. It is its own memories, grievances, unfinished struggles and of course hopes about a better future. So what I drew in this book But what I articulate in this book must be seen as part of an ongoing hist an sorry, an ongoing dialogue with this history.
Way. I try to demonstrate that African philosophy must define its own priority questions. But of course cognizant of the specificities of the continent and what else is happening around the world. So the main thesis of this book, if I may summarize it in two words. is liberation and self rediscovery. And I think I can a a a Explain that a at two levels. The first is in relation to Where we stand. In relation to the dominant traditions of philosophy in the world And secondly, which is more important for me in relation to our own selves and In the sense of where we are And where we have fallen short. In answering to their call African know they self. So those are the two main uh uh issues that I think Eh I I try to
Highlight and deal within the book.
And we'll talk about both the oh sorry, I'm go ahead. Please continue.
Yeah, okay. So I I'm saying In this book therefore I I I attempt to address those two issues in the in in the different chapters is the book progresses. By trying to engage What I think Are the priority issues in African philosophy? and also laying bare the nature of the debate That I think should be sent around.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the central aim of Pascah Mungwini’s book *African Philosophy: Emancipation and Practice*?
0:00–5:32
2
How does Mungwini define the twin priorities of liberation and self‑rediscovery for African philosophy?
5:32–13:03
3
Why does Mungwini argue that ethnophilosophy should be reclaimed rather than dismissed?
13:03–20:19
4
What role do oral traditions and communal narratives play in shaping African philosophical thought?
20:19–28:04
5
How does linguistic diversity across Africa affect intra‑continental philosophical dialogue?
28:04–35:07
6
Why is translation essential for fostering robust African philosophical conversations?
35:07–42:47
7
What is the significance of intercultural dialogue for a philosophy that is true to both humanity and diverse traditions?
42:47–50:28
8
How does the concept of Ubuntu embody the emancipatory project of African philosophy?
50:28–59:36
Speakers
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