ABSTRACT
In a long-held prejudice by European custodians of philosophy, Africa has been depicted as tabula rasa in the domain of philosophy. Philosophy is not subject to missionary activity. It is native to human beings. A few decades ago some African philosophers were involved in theorizing about the existence of African philosophy. For centuries, what Europeans have taken to be philosophy has been uncontested. To the extent that what African philosophy is, is clearly understood and arises from the ashes into which it has been reduced by Europeans, it may dawn on Europeans that they too need to reflect on what hitherto they have taken to be their philosophy. Today, in Africa, we come face to face with the problem of the language of philosophy. The appeal to science by Hountondji could readily reinforce false universality in the meaning of philosophy.
