Nkrumah's consciencism: the African personality defined by a cluster of humanist principles underlying traditional African society¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article presents Nkrumah's philosophy of consciencism as the intellectual map enabling African society to digest Western, Islamic, and Euro-Christian elements so they fit the African personality. In Consciencism he writes that "The African personality is itself defined by a cluster of humanist principles which underlie the traditional African society". Nkrumah envisioned a United States of Africa based on African humanism and Pan-African socialism, recasting Marxist humanism so that the revolution exists for humanity.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Reawakening of an African personality to provide the foundational essence for a United States of Africa

Constraints¶

• Political impediments: reluctance of African politicians to relinquish colonial-era boundaries, and Western neo-colonial opposition culminating in the 1966 coup

Target Learners¶

• African and diasporic youth

Target Learning Objectives¶

• psychological, political, and economic decolonization
• Pan-African unity
• humanist consciousness

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Ikeda's philosophy of global citizenship rests on inner transformation, dialogue, and global citizenship, expressed as wisdom, courage, and compassion

Examples¶

• Advance value-creating-modeled curriculum projects in Africana communities to foster ubuntu, happiness, and contributive lifestyles

Key Sources¶

• Stewart Williams, J. E. (2020). Daisaku Ikeda's Philosophy of Value-Creating Global Citizenship Education and Africana Humanism: Africa as the Continent of the 21st Century. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 9(SI). https://ojed.org/jise