DECOLONISATION AS A PATHWAY TO AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

This paper examines decolonisation as a foundational pathway to the emergence and development of African philosophy. It argues that decolonisation should not be conceived merely as the achievement of political independence, but rather as a comprehensive and ongoing process involving economic, cultural, psychological, and epistemic liberation. By clarifying the concepts of colonisation and decolonisation, the study situates African decolonisation within its historical context and critically analyses its rationale, causes, effects, and persistent challenges. Special attention is given to neocolonialism and internal colonialism as significant impediments to genuine African self-determination. Drawing on the works of Frantz Fanon, Kwame Nkrumah, Walter Rodney, Kwasi Wiredu, Paulin Hountondji, Henry Odera Oruka, John Mbiti, and other prominent scholars, the paper demonstrates that colonial domination extended beyond political and economic control to the sphere of knowledge production and philosophical expression. It contends that African philosophy can only develop authentically within a decolonised intellectual framework that affirms African rationality, conceptual autonomy, and lived cultural experience, while remaining open to critical intercultural engagement. The paper concludes that decolonisation is not a completed historical event but a continuing philosophical imperative essential for Africa’s intellectual freedom and meaningful participation in global philosophical discourse.