ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the 'Africana philosophy', is the phrase used as a 'gathering' notion under which to situate the articulations and traditions of the same, of Africans and peoples of African descent collectively, as well as the sub-discipline, tradition-defining, tradition-organizing reconstructive efforts which are regarded as the philosophy. Emerging during the apex of European colonization in Africa, the discussions were much influenced by this context and by anti-colonial struggles. The focus of the discussions was whether African peoples could have or do philosophy. The situated actualizations of species-specific capacities in response to the need for reflection and articulation in order to ensure survival guarantees diversity in the philosophizing of persons who are members of a large race that is geographically dispersed and ethnically diverse. A significant number of African intellectuals felt that the humanity of Africans as beings of reason was defended and vindicated, all the more so by a European.
