A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture

Sunday Layi Oladipupo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture

Sunday Layi Oladipupo

Published in International Journal of Philosophy (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Received: 22 November 2021 Accepted: 11 December 2021 Published: 24 December 2021

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Abstract

Communalism is one of the socio-political traditions that has received scholarly interrogation in and among African scholars. The utmost essence of the tradition is woven around the doctrine of togetherness. It is believed to be a tool of galvanization in African society. While some are of the view that the place of an individual in African society is a part that secures its essence from collectiveness of human beings in the society, others argues that it is the individuals that give credence to the collectiveness ever experienced in African society. This discourse, sets to evaluate communalism from African perspective vis-a-vis the emerging democratic culture. This is done against the backdrop of Popper’s conceptions of individualism and collectivism in his Open Society and Its Enemies, as a point of departure if communalism in the traditional African thought system is juxtaposed with the emerging socio-political trends in contemporary Africa, the former would have lost its credence as a tool that facilitates peaceful co-existence in African society. Thus, using the analytical and critical methods of philosophical investigation, the paper concludes that the need for a blend of the positives of both African communalism and contemporary democratic tradition to enhance social order in Nigeria is inevitable in resolving the current socio-political quagmire that beclouds Africa continent with particular reference to Nigeria.

Published in	International Journal of Philosophy (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19
Page(s)	236-245
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

African, Communalism, Democratic Culture, Socio-political, Karl Popper

References

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[2]	Oladipupo S. Layi. (2018). Rethinking the Tripartite Conception of Person in Yoruba Traditional Thought. Ewanlen: A Journal of Philosophical Inquiry, 2 (1) 74.
[3]	Mbiti, J. S. (1969). African Religions and Philosophy, London; Heinemann, 108 - 109.
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[8]	Oladipupo S. Layi. (Forthcoming). “Rethinking African Spirit of Collectivism as a Tool for African Empowerment”, An initial version of this chapter was presented at 2014 Africa Conference at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, April 4-6, 2014.
[9]	Senghor, S. L. (1964). On African Socialism, Mercer Cook (trans.). New York: Pracger, 93 - 94.
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[12]	Karl, P. (1966). The Open Society and Its Enemies. Princeton N. J. Princeton University Press. 175 - 176.
[13]	Maurier, H. (1979). Do We Have an African Philosophy. 12.
[14]	See Taiwo, O. (2011). Africa must be Modern the Modern Imperative in Contemporary Africa: A Manifesto. 45.
[15]	Oladipupo, S. Layi. (2011). The Problem of Conceptual and Pragmatic Foundation of Nigerian Democratic Culture. Journal of religion & African Culture (JORAC), III (1&2). 167.
[16]	See Laleye, S. A. (2006). The Logic of Democracy and the Trajectory of Africa Traditional Thought. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 1 (1). 197.
[17]	Bamikole, L. O. (2000). The Idea of Democracy. Issues and Issues and Problem of Philosophy, Kolawole Owolabi, (ed.), Ibadan: Grovacs Network. 231.
[18]	Olu-Adeyemi, L. (2018). ‘E dibo, Ke Se Obe’: ‘Vote for cash’ as an Emergent Paradigm of Electoral Corruption in Nigeria. Corruption: A New Thinking in the Reverse Order, Benson O. Igboin (ed.). Oyo: Ajayi Crowther University Press. 202.
[19]	Dewey, J. (1997). Ethics of Democracy. Pragmatism: A Reader, Loius Menand (ed.). New York: Vintage Book. 189.
[20]	Heater, D. B. (1964). Political Ideas in the Modern World, George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd. 117.
[21]	Diamond, L. (nd.). Class, Ethnicity and Democracy in Nigeria: The failure of the First Republic, London: The Macmillan Press. 4.
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[23]	Achebe, C. (1983). The Trouble with Nigeria, London: Heinemann, 1983. 52.
[24]	Onah, I. G. (2002: 9). Africa and the Illusion of Democracy. Philosophy and the Quest for Responsibility for Responsible in Africa, paper presented at the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria. 9.
[25]	Awolowo, O. (1946). Path to Nigerian Freedom, London: Faber. 31.
[26]	Taiwo, O. (2010). How Colonialism Preeempted Modernity in Africa, Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. 2.
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[28]	Karl, P. (1945). The Open Society and Its Enemies, Volume 1: The Spell of Plato. London: George Routledge & Sons Ltd. 3.
[29]	Notturno, M. Popper and Hayek: On Democracy and Open Society, retrieved from http://www.journallibertas.com/uploads/7/4/7/8/7478847/libertas.1.2_-_02.notturno_mark.pdf on 11/12/2018, 18.
[30]	Notturno, M. Popper and Hayek: On Democracy and Open Society. 19.
[31]	Karl, P. (1945). The Open Society and Its Enemies, Volume 1: The Spell of Plato. 106.
[32]	Karl, P. (1945). The Open Society and Its Enemies, Volume 1: The Spell of Plato. 107.
[33]	Karl, P. (1945). The Open Society and Its Enemies, Volume 1: The Spell of Plato. 139 - 140.
[34]	Karl, P. “Karl Popper on Democracy.” The Economist, April 23, 1988. https://lampadia.com/assets/uploads_documentos/9baee-karl-popper-on-democracy.pdf, retrieved on 11/12/2018.
[35]	Karl, P. (1945). The Open Society and Its Enemies, Volume 1: The Spell of Plato. 7.
[36]	Ikuenobe, P. (2016). Tradition, Modernity, and Social Development. 55.
[37]	Wiredu, K. (1996). Philosophy and an African Culture, London: Cambridge University Press. 177.
[38]	Aigbodioh, J. A. (2016). Is Social Order the Creation of Natural Instinct, or of Reason? Reflections on Godwin Sogolo’s Critique of Socio-Biology. Ethics, Governance and Social Order in Africa: Essays in Honour of Godwin S. Sogolo. O. A. Oyeshile & F. Offor (eds.). Ibadan: Zenith BookHouse Ltd. 240.
[39]	Nsikanabasi, U. W. & Mathias, J. (2016). African Culture and the Problem of Social Order. Ethics, Governance and Social Order in Africa: Essays in Honour of Godwin S. Sogolo, O. A. Oyeshile & F. Offor (eds.). Ibadan: Zenith BookHouse Ltd. 285.
[40]	Karl, P. (1966). The Open Society and Its Enemies. 183.

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Sunday Layi Oladipupo. (2021). A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture. International Journal of Philosophy, 9(4), 236-245. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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Sunday Layi Oladipupo. A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture. Int. J. Philos. 2021, 9(4), 236-245. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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Sunday Layi Oladipupo. A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture. Int J Philos. 2021;9(4):236-245. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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@article{10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19,
  author = {Sunday Layi Oladipupo},
  title = {A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture},
  journal = {International Journal of Philosophy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {236-245},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijp.20210904.19},
  abstract = {Communalism is one of the socio-political traditions that has received scholarly interrogation in and among African scholars. The utmost essence of the tradition is woven around the doctrine of togetherness. It is believed to be a tool of galvanization in African society. While some are of the view that the place of an individual in African society is a part that secures its essence from collectiveness of human beings in the society, others argues that it is the individuals that give credence to the collectiveness ever experienced in African society. This discourse, sets to evaluate communalism from African perspective vis-a-vis the emerging democratic culture. This is done against the backdrop of Popper’s conceptions of individualism and collectivism in his Open Society and Its Enemies, as a point of departure if communalism in the traditional African thought system is juxtaposed with the emerging socio-political trends in contemporary Africa, the former would have lost its credence as a tool that facilitates peaceful co-existence in African society. Thus, using the analytical and critical methods of philosophical investigation, the paper concludes that the need for a blend of the positives of both African communalism and contemporary democratic tradition to enhance social order in Nigeria is inevitable in resolving the current socio-political quagmire that beclouds Africa continent with particular reference to Nigeria.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture
AU  - Sunday Layi Oladipupo
Y1  - 2021/12/24
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - Communalism is one of the socio-political traditions that has received scholarly interrogation in and among African scholars. The utmost essence of the tradition is woven around the doctrine of togetherness. It is believed to be a tool of galvanization in African society. While some are of the view that the place of an individual in African society is a part that secures its essence from collectiveness of human beings in the society, others argues that it is the individuals that give credence to the collectiveness ever experienced in African society. This discourse, sets to evaluate communalism from African perspective vis-a-vis the emerging democratic culture. This is done against the backdrop of Popper’s conceptions of individualism and collectivism in his Open Society and Its Enemies, as a point of departure if communalism in the traditional African thought system is juxtaposed with the emerging socio-political trends in contemporary Africa, the former would have lost its credence as a tool that facilitates peaceful co-existence in African society. Thus, using the analytical and critical methods of philosophical investigation, the paper concludes that the need for a blend of the positives of both African communalism and contemporary democratic tradition to enhance social order in Nigeria is inevitable in resolving the current socio-political quagmire that beclouds Africa continent with particular reference to Nigeria.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Sunday Layi Oladipupo

Department of Philosophy, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria

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Sunday Layi Oladipupo. (2021). A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture. International Journal of Philosophy, 9(4), 236-245. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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Sunday Layi Oladipupo. A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture. Int. J. Philos. 2021, 9(4), 236-245. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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AMA Style

Sunday Layi Oladipupo. A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture. Int J Philos. 2021;9(4):236-245. doi: 10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19

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@article{10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19,
  author = {Sunday Layi Oladipupo},
  title = {A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture},
  journal = {International Journal of Philosophy},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {236-245},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijp.20210904.19},
  abstract = {Communalism is one of the socio-political traditions that has received scholarly interrogation in and among African scholars. The utmost essence of the tradition is woven around the doctrine of togetherness. It is believed to be a tool of galvanization in African society. While some are of the view that the place of an individual in African society is a part that secures its essence from collectiveness of human beings in the society, others argues that it is the individuals that give credence to the collectiveness ever experienced in African society. This discourse, sets to evaluate communalism from African perspective vis-a-vis the emerging democratic culture. This is done against the backdrop of Popper’s conceptions of individualism and collectivism in his Open Society and Its Enemies, as a point of departure if communalism in the traditional African thought system is juxtaposed with the emerging socio-political trends in contemporary Africa, the former would have lost its credence as a tool that facilitates peaceful co-existence in African society. Thus, using the analytical and critical methods of philosophical investigation, the paper concludes that the need for a blend of the positives of both African communalism and contemporary democratic tradition to enhance social order in Nigeria is inevitable in resolving the current socio-political quagmire that beclouds Africa continent with particular reference to Nigeria.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Popperian Interrogation of African Communalism in the Context of Nigerian Democratic Culture
AU  - Sunday Layi Oladipupo
Y1  - 2021/12/24
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19
T2  - International Journal of Philosophy
JF  - International Journal of Philosophy
JO  - International Journal of Philosophy
SP  - 236
EP  - 245
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7455
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijp.20210904.19
AB  - Communalism is one of the socio-political traditions that has received scholarly interrogation in and among African scholars. The utmost essence of the tradition is woven around the doctrine of togetherness. It is believed to be a tool of galvanization in African society. While some are of the view that the place of an individual in African society is a part that secures its essence from collectiveness of human beings in the society, others argues that it is the individuals that give credence to the collectiveness ever experienced in African society. This discourse, sets to evaluate communalism from African perspective vis-a-vis the emerging democratic culture. This is done against the backdrop of Popper’s conceptions of individualism and collectivism in his Open Society and Its Enemies, as a point of departure if communalism in the traditional African thought system is juxtaposed with the emerging socio-political trends in contemporary Africa, the former would have lost its credence as a tool that facilitates peaceful co-existence in African society. Thus, using the analytical and critical methods of philosophical investigation, the paper concludes that the need for a blend of the positives of both African communalism and contemporary democratic tradition to enhance social order in Nigeria is inevitable in resolving the current socio-political quagmire that beclouds Africa continent with particular reference to Nigeria.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download