AQUINO Journal of Philosophy

This paper seeks to give a critical analysis of Kwasi Wiredu's thought on the African development project, with a view of accessing to what extent his philosophical prescriptions can aid Africa in realizing holistic development. This task finds significance because the crisis of postcolonial African States is anchor on the choice of pathway that Africans can follow in achieving holistic development, modernization and progress. The challenges that confront the African development project are perennial and hydraheaded, such that placed the current developmental state of Africa in a quagmire. Using the expository and analytic method, the paper identify Wiredu's thought as titling towards cultural hybridity and heterosis which entails that the blending of positive elements in African, western and non-western cultures into a 'whole' that can be used for selfdefinition of Africans, in order to forge a pathway for more holistic development, modernization and progress. The practical application of this principle is that Africans must imbibe the scientific and technological mode of thought that is predominate in western culture; adopt inclusive education and redefine African moral values in the light of contemporary African experience. This paper agree with Wiredu submissions but add that self-definition can only be possible after self-retrieval. It is only a self that is aware of its identity that can define it in relation to the other. Self-retrieval is an exercise in selfcriticism that is necessary to disentangle the African self from the cultural, epistemological and spiritual hegemony of the west. African intelligentsia and the political class must lead in this exercise of self-retrieval.

Open Full Text (PDF)