MANIRAKIZA Course: African Philosophy ____________________

Languages used in African Philosophy

The use of different languages in African philosophy can be debatable since African philosophers used non-African languages in their work. That debate is the object of these few paragraphs. It will be done in two main steps. After looking at some known African

philosophers, I will question and discuss the languages that were used in African philosophy. There have been many African philosophers. They played an important role in giving value to the African thinking that was masked for a long time by Westerners. This group of African philosophers includes some Africans such as Alexis Kagame, Amo Anton Wilhelm, John Mbiti, and also non-Africans like the missionary Placide Tempel. Although these African philosopher did a very important work, their writing are mostly found in non-African languages. One should not debate so much about Tempel who was not an African, but a debate imposes itself about the African philosophers who were African. It is really a weakness for Africans to write African philosophy in only foreign languages. In fact, African philosophers such as Alexis Kagame, John Mbiti and Amo Wilhelm are people who acquired Western education. That education is even important, but they should write African philosophy in African languages in other to be quite Africans. When they write African philosophy in Western languages, it implies that what they say is inspired by Western way of thinking that they have been imbued. Moreover, their writings are mainly addressed to

Westerners and Africans who know the European languages rather that to Africans in general. Furthermore, a French proverb says "Traduire c'est trahir", which means that a translation

deteriorates the message. African philosophy, though expressed by very educated people, likely changes a little because it is not expressed in its original languages. There must be realities whose accurate translations are not found in other languages. In conclusion, the African philosophers did well to write African philosophy. However, the fact that they used Western languages to express African way of thinking and being has an influence to this African philosophy. Africans who do not understand those languages used are excluded to some extent. Moreover, there are realities that are inaccurately or not at all

expressed because of the use of the other languages rather that the original ones. The use of original languages should make a better-written African philosophy.