The Ethical and Socio-Ontological Implications of African Communalism

Abstract

The spiritual, the social, the economic, and the entire psycho-somatic life of traditional African people are replete with values and peculiarities that have survived years of Western influences and social crises. These values still survive today and influence Africans (as reflected in their communalistic lifestyle). To the traditional African, communal principles do not just shape a human being as an individual, but also inherently situate them within a community; in this light, Africans perceive a strong bond between the individual and the community. Consequently, rationality does not just define the reality of one's existence (as upheld by René Descartes), but also derives from one’s belonging to the relational network of one's communal environment. In the African context, 'human' signifies 'relationship,' 'connectedness,' 'communion,' and 'community'. Nevertheless, this communalistic value—an inherited cultural-attitudinal trait of traditional Africans—is today embattled and heavily influenced by Western individualistic theories; the friction between these two value systems challenges Africans’ views on human existence. Adopting a qualitative approach, this research explores how best to achieve a balanced interaction between Western individualism and African communalism, thereby fostering an ethically principled African community. The research recommends that Africa should be freed from the undue dominance of Western individualistic influences through a communalistic framework, if it is to become a "fertile land" that can yield and sustain the ethical fruits of communal ethics, sacrificial love, social justice, and trust.