Vol. 1 (2020)

The aim of this journal is quite simple. It solicits and seeks to publish quality research on contemporary topics in African philosophy. Anyone familiar with African philosophy will be aware of its heavy burdens. Not only has African philosophy had a torrid time working out its definition, justification and form of reason; it has also been burdened by the history of its place of origin, Africa. Having suffered extreme violence perpetuated in the name of the mission to civilise, African people have had to work hard at finding their own identity, asserting their humanity, and overcoming institutionalised discrimination. Though these topics crop up in a variety of ways and in different forums, at JOCAP, we choose a different emphasis for reasons I will explain shortly. While we acknowledge the importance of topics of our past and forces responsible for it, we are convinced that we could do more for African philosophy if we were to choose a different path. Africa, like any other place, on earth is caught up in the forces of the present movement towards technological advancement, environmental and ecological crisis, and the rise of nationalist politics. Africa is also in a network of global relations born, partially, out of its history and partially out of its own choices of alliances. These fast paced social and political realities place a different sort of burden on today’s philosopher in comparison to the philosopher of the 1980s or 1990s...