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This series of episodes, co-written by Chike Jeffers of Dalhousie University, examines philosophy originating from Africa and the African diaspora. Beginning with the origins of humanity in Africa and philosophical literature in ancient Egypt, the story will go up to the twentieth century and beyond. Major themes include African oral traditions, reactions to the depredations of colonialism and enslavement, political philosophy and philosophy of race developed in the twentieth century, and the emergence of Africana thought within academia.
Chike Jeffers and Peter Adamson kick off the new series by explaining the scope and meaning of "Africana philosophy".
Might philosophy be as old as humankind as we know it? We investigate the implications of findings concerning the origins of humankind in Africa.
Do the cuneiform writings of Babylonian culture show that it had its own philosophy?
Ancient Egyptian figures and writings including the Pyramid Texts, Imhotep, and the "first monotheist" Akhenaten reflect on the nature of things and questions of morality.
Ethical reflection in ancient Egyptian grave inscriptions and in works of instruction, such as the Maxims of Ptahhotep and the Instructions named for Amenemope, Ani, and Merikare.
Demands for ma’at (justice or truth) and a confrontation with the soul, in the Tale of the Eloquent Peasant and Dispute Between a Man and his Ba.
Egyptioogist Richard Parkinson joins us to talk about the context and meaning of the Eloquent Peasant and other literary works of ancient Egypt.
Philosophy in Ethiopia, with translations of religious and philosophical texts into Ge’ez and a national epic called the Kebra Nagast.
The 17th century Ethiopian rationalist Zera Yacob, hailed as the first modern Africana philosopher.
Walda Heywat’s reaction to the thought of his teacher Zera Yacob, and the dispute over the authenticity of these two Ethiopian philosophers.
Teodros Kiros discusses the history of Ethiopian thought and how it has influenced his own work in political philosophy.
The spread of Islamic scholarship in subsaharan Africa, focusing on intellectuals of the Songhay empire around the Niger River in the 15th-17th centuries.
Uthman Dan Fodio and his family were scholars, poets, and warriors whose jihad in 19th century Nigeria created the Sokoto Caliphate.
Peter speaks to Souleymane Bachir Diagne about Islamic scholars in West Africa.
An introduction to the “ethnophilosophy” approach inaugurated by Placide Tempels, its promises and potential pitfalls.
A conversation with Sam Imbo on approaching oral traditions as philosophy and the Ugandan thinker and poet Okot p'Bitek.
John Mbiti’s influential and controversial claim that traditional Africans experience time as having “a long past, a present, and virtually no future.”
Is traditional African religion in some sense monotheist, despite the worship of many divinities?
Traditional African ideas about personhood, which challenge assumptions about the relation between mind and body, self and other.
Emphasis on the value of community as a major theme in African philosophy.
Special forms of knowledge and the explanation of misfortunes in African tradition.
What archeology and ethnography tell us about the diverse and often ambiguous roles of men and women in traditional African societies.
An interview with Nkiru Nzegwu on matriarchy and gender fluidity in Africa.
Paulin Hountondji and other African philosophers criticize ethnophilosophy and advocate a universalist approach.
Henry Odera Oruka’s new method for exploring philosophy in Africa, based on interviews with wise individuals.
An interview with Kai Kresse who discusses his efforts to do "anthropology of philosophy" on the Swahili Coast.
As the twentieth century draws to a close, the critique of ethnophilosophy gives way to approaches that continue to privilege the study of precolonial traditions.
Co-host Chike Jeffers and Peter chat about the themes and questions raised by the podcast so far.
An introduction to Africana philosophical thought as it emerged from the modern experience of slavery and colonization by Europeans.
Anton Wilhelm Amo, brought to Germany from his native Ghana, defends a rigorous dualism of mind and body. Was this philosophy connected to his African origins?
Justin E.H. Smith joins us to discuss Anton Wilhelm Amo against the background of ideas about race in early modern philosophy, including Leibniz.
18th century black authors touch on philosophical themes in autobiographical narratives, poetry, and other literary genres.
Phillis Wheatley astonishes colonial Americans with her exquisite and precocious poetry and reflects on the liberating power of the imagination.
Preacher and Revolutionary War soldier Lemuel Haynes argues that the principles of the American Revolution demand the abolition of slavery.
Ignatius Sancho and Benjamin Banneker make their mark on the history of Africana thought through letters that reflect on the power of sentiment.
Quobna Ottobah Cugoano and Olaudah Equiano advance the goals of the abolitionist movement through a groundbreaking political treatise and an influential autobiography.
In an age of revolutions and revolutionary ideas, the Haitian Revolution of 1791-1804 stands out as the most radical of them all.
The Baron de Vastey unveils the horror of colonialism as a system and defends the monarchy of King Christophe in the tense early years of Haiti’s independence.
An interview with Doris Garraway on the background, intellectual basis, and legacy of the Haitian Revolution.
Building black institutions in early American history, with Prince Hall and the Masons in Boston, and Richard Allen and the Methodists in Philadelphia.
Questions of political autonomy and group identity in the emigration movement led by Paul Cuffe, Daniel Coker, John Russwurm and others.
An interview with James Sidbury about the emergence of a self-conscious African identity in the diaspora.
David Walker defends violent resistance and encourages self-improvement in his incendiary and influential Appeal.
Maria W. Stewart’s public addresses bring the concerns of African American women into the struggle against racial prejudice.
Hosea Easton’s Treatise provides an overlooked but fascinating theory of race and racism.
Melvin Rogers joins us to discuss Hosea Walker, Maria Stewart, and Hosea Easton.
Frederick Douglass' journey from slave to leading figure of 19th century American thought.
In two speeches marking holidays, Frederick Douglass champions the idea of world citizenship, the power of appeals to conscience to bring change, and the role of violence.
Henry Highland Garnet encourages, or actually demands, that enslaved Americans throw off their chains and debates Douglass over how best to resist slavery.
He is called a “father of black nationalism,” but Martin Delany also promoted integration in American society. Can the apparent tension be resolved?
The moral crusades of Sojourner Truth and Frances Harper, activists against racial and gender oppression.
Mary Ann Shadd and Samuel Ringgold Ward reflect on what Canada can offer African Americans, differing on the problem of racism.
Alexander Crummell moves from pan-Africanism to reform of African American culture, identifying progressive “civilization” as a means of liberation.
Wilson Moses speaks to us about his research into early black notionalism, as represented by Crummell, Douglass, and others.
- A. Afolayan and T. Falola (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of African Philosophy (New York: 2017).
- K.A. Appiah, In My Father's House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture (New York: 1992).
- M.K. Asante and A.S. Abarry (eds), African Intellectual Heritage: A Book of Sources (Philadelphia: 1996).
- R.H. Bell, Understanding African Philosophy. A Cross-Cultural Approach to Classical and Contemporary Issues in Africa (New York: 2002).
- A.B. Bogues, Black Heretics, Black Prophets: Radical Political Intellectuals (New York: 2003).
- H. Brotz (ed.), African-American Social and Political Thought 1850–1920, revised ed. (New Brunswick: 1992).
- P.H. Coetzee and A.P.J. Roux (eds), The African Philosophy Reader. A Text with Readings (New York: 1998).
- E. Etieyibo (ed.), Method, Substance, and the Future of African Philosophy (Cham: 2018).
- E.C. Eze (ed.), Postcolonial African Philosophy: A Critical Reader (Cambridge: 1997).
- E.C. Eze (ed.), African Philosophy. An Anthology (Oxford: 1998).
- J.L. Garfield and W. Edelglass (eds), The Oxford Handbook of World Philosophy (New York: 2011), part VI (edited by A. Mosley and S.C. Ferguson II).
- L.R. Gordon (ed.), Existence in Black: An Anthology of Black Existential Philosophy (New York: 1997).
- L.R. Gordon, An Introduction to Africana Philosophy (New York: 2008).
- B. Guy-Sheftall, Words of Fire: An Anthology of African-American Feminist Thought (New York: 1995).
- B. Hallen, A Short History of African Philosophy (Bloomington: 2002).
- L. Harris, Philosophy Born of Struggle: Anthology of Afro-American Philosophy from 1917 (Dubuque: 1983).
- P. Henry, Caliban's Reason: Introducing Afro-Caribbean Philosophy (New York: 2000).
- F.L. Hord (Mzee Lasana Okpara) and J.S. Lee (eds), I Am Because We Are: Readings in Africana Philosophy, revised ed. (Amherst: 2016).
- S.O. Imbo, An Introduction to African Philosophy (Lanham: 1998).
- B.B. Janz, Philosophy in an African Place (Lanham: 2009).
- C. Jeffers (ed.), Listening to Ourselves: A Multilingual Anthology of African Philosophy (Albany: 2013).
- T.L. Lott (ed.), African-American Philosophy: Selected Readings (Upper Saddle River: 2002).
- T.L. Lott and J.P. Pittman (eds), A Companion to African-American Philosophy (Malden: 2003).
- D.A. Masolo, African Philosophy in Search of Identity (Bloomington: 1994).
- J. McDade (ed.), The Philosophical Forum: Special Issue: Philosophy and Black Experience 9 (Winter-Spring 1977-1978).
- C.W. Mills, Blackness Visible: Essays on Philosophy and Race (Ithaca: 1998).
- J.A. Montmarquet and W.H. Hardy (eds), Reflections: An Anthology of African American Philosophy (Belmont: 2000).
- A. Mosley (ed.), African Philosophy: Selected Readings (Englewood Cliffs: 1995).
- L.T. Outlaw, Jr., On Race and Philosophy (New York: 1996).
- J.P. Pittman (ed.), African-American Perspectives and Philosophical Traditions (New York: 1996).
- T. Serequeberhan (ed.), African Philosophy: The Essential Readings (New York: 1991).
- T. Serequeberhan, Our Heritage: The Past in the Present of African-American and African Existence (Lanham: 2000).
- I.E. Ukpokolo (ed.), Themes, Issues and Problems in African Philosophy (Cham: 2017).
- K. Wiredu (ed.) A Companion to African Philosophy (Malden: 2004).
- G. Yancy (ed.), African-American Philosophers: 17 Conversations (New York: 1998).