The African view of the world
Have you ever thought that the world looks different depending on where you are?
Seen from Africa, the world takes on a particular color. Intellectuals call this the African view of the world. Just as there are European, Asian, and American views, there is an African way of understanding reality. But let us be clear about this expression.
What is a worldview?
It is a framework shared by a group of people to distinguish what is “normal” from what is not. Each major worldview is divided into sub-worldviews, but all influence our choices and values.
The African worldview
I was born in Bandjoun, in the heart of the green hills of western Cameroon, and grew up in the Bamileke culture. Very early on, I understood that the world is not viewed the same way everywhere. What we call “normal” here may seem strange elsewhere.
In Africa, the world is seen through a particular prism: the community. For us, what is “normal” is what promotes abundant life for the community. What divides or destroys the community? That is “abnormal.” Simple, right? But behind this simplicity lies a profound philosophy.
A three-dimensional community
When we talk about community in Africa, we are not just talking about the living. It is a three-dimensional reality:
- The living, who are the link between the dead and the not-yet-born.
- The ancestors, whose memory must be revered.
- The not-yet-born, to whom we must leave a better world.
All this in a balanced relationship with nature and transcendence.
In short, the community is made of all living beings, living in perfect harmony with nature and transcendence, having the responsibility to honor the memory of the ancestors and leave a better world for the “not-yet-born”.
This is how I have learned to view the world: every action, every decision must answer a single question:
Does it benefit the life of the community?
A key to understanding Africa
If you understand this, you will understand the principle guiding Africa’s approach to issues such as ecology, ethics, family, and human rights. It is neither imperialistic nor proselytizing. It is centered on life.
An exercise for you
Choose an action you are considering taking. Ask yourself: Will this action, in this context, promote the life of the community? If your answer is yes, then your action is “normal” according to the African worldview.
And where does the individual fit into this vision? You may ask. The answer is: Ubuntu! I am because we are.
Found in various ways across African languages, Ubuntu expresses a simple truth: A human being cannot be human without other human beings.
I am because we are is the heart of the African worldview. And you don’t have to be African to live it. It is open to all who believe that life is more meaningful when shared.
