‘Decolonization’ and ‘Africanization’ of Modernity: A Peep into Yoruba ‘Cosmotology’

Authors: Oladipupo SL

DOI: 10.23880/phij-16000349

Volume 8, Issue 1

Abstract

Modernity is a product of culture that exhibit cultural dynamism. Like growth, it is a movement from one stage to the other. Africa is a conglomeration of people of the same geo-socio-political origin, with common colonial experience. The consequence of colonization leaves with Africans and African continent, the uncritical and near dogmatic acceptance of her worldview as inferior and unscientific compared to the overrated superiority and scientific inclinations of the Western culture. Hence the dichotomy and subjugation of the epistemology of the global south by the global north epistemology as experience in scholarship. This leads to epistemicide of the global south culture by the global north. Using philosophical method of analysis, this discourse unravel the effect of miseducation handed over to the current generation by both Western and African intellectuals who themselves are ‘uneducated’ within the prism of African culture. As such, it is argued that Africans should not see themselves as second fiddle, though there is the need to embrace other ideas and ideals, it should not be holistic imitation of such ideas and ideals. This is because uncritical and unreflective imitation is tantamount to limitation, therefore, while Africans are learning from other cultural categorization of modernity, it should be done in a way that could embrace the ideas and ideals of others by placing them side by side their own worldview that reflects their own cultural heritages.

Keywords: Decolonization; Africanization; Modernity; Culture; Yoruba; Cosmo-tology

View PDF