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The book argues that women's perspectives and gender issues must be mainstreamed across African philosophy in order for the discipline to truly represent the thoughts of Africans across the continent.
African philosophy as an academic discipline emerged as a direct challenge to Western and Eurocentric hegemonies. It sought to actualize the project of decolonization and to contribute African perspectives to global discourses. There has, however, been a dominance of male perspectives in this field of human knowledge. This book argues that African philosophy cannot claim to have liberated people of African descent from marginalization until the androcentric nature of African philosophy is addressed. Key concepts such as Ujamaa, Negritude, Ubuntu, Consciencism, and African Socialism are explored as they relate to African women's lives or as models of inclusion or exclusion from politics. In addition to offering a feminist critique of African philosophy, the book also discusses topics that have been consistently overlooked in African philosophy. These topics include sex, sexuality, rape, motherhood, prostitution, and the low participation of women in politics.
By highlighting the work of women feminist scholars such as Oyeronke Oyewumi, Nkiru Nzegwu, Ifi Amadiume, Amina Mama, and Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, the book engages with African philosophy from an African feminist viewpoint. This book will be an essential resource for students and researchers of African philosophy and gender studies.
List of contents
Preface Introduction: The Necessity of Philosophy on the Continent PART I Chapter One: What Is This Thing Called African Philosophy? Chapter Two: Feminist Scholarship in Africa: How Far Have We Really Come? Chapter Three: African Philosophy and the Shackles of Androcentrism Chapter Four: Mainstreaming Gender Issues in African Philosophy: A Decolonization Effort PART II Chapter Five: African Women, Illogicality and Epistemic Tyranny Chapter Six: African Women as Moral Agents and Judges Chapter Seven: Women as Metaphysical Figures in Traditional and Contemporary Africa Chapter Eight: Women, Marginalization, and African Political Theories Conclusion: From Episteme and Doxa: The Imperative of a Gender-Balanced Discourse in Contemporary Africa
About the author
Abosede Priscilla Ipadeola is a Senior Lecturer, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a Postdoctoral Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt, at Katholische Universität, Eichstatt-Ingolstadt, Germany (2020-2023).
Summary
The book argues that women's perspectives and gender issues must be mainstreamed across African philosophy in order for the discipline to truly represent the thoughts of Africans across the continent. It will be an essential resource for students and researchers of African philosophy and gender studies.
