African Art Criticism and Theory | 03 June 2005
The Evolution of African Philosophy in Post-Colonial Democratic Republic of Congo: A Mixed Methods Inquiry
M, a, n, d, i, m, a, B, a, n, g, a, ,, K, a, s, a, m, b, y, a, N, s, i, k, a, ,, K, a, m, w, i, r, o, M, u, h, i, n, d, o
Abstract
The post-colonial era in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen a resurgence of interest in African philosophy, driven by efforts to reclaim and reinterpret traditional wisdom within contemporary contexts. The research integrates qualitative content analysis of historical documents with quantitative surveys of academic publications from recent years. Interviews were conducted with scholars who specialize in African studies in Congo. A significant proportion, approximately 75%, of the surveyed literature focuses on the contributions and critiques of traditional African philosophies within a post-colonial framework. Notably, the themes of community ethics and environmental stewardship emerged as recurring motifs across various texts. This study underscores the importance of integrating historical and contemporary perspectives to understand the evolution of African philosophy in DRC. It highlights the need for further research that incorporates indigenous methodologies and digital archives. Future scholars are encouraged to utilise mixed methods approaches, combining traditional archival work with modern academic practices, to deepen our understanding of post-colonial African philosophies. African philosophy, Democratic Republic of Congo, Post-colonial studies, Mixed Methods