CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study
This study attempts a critical evaluation of the place of import thesis in African political thought. African political thought is essentially based on African philosophy and culture. It is a frontal attack on the imperial powers of Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Union of South Africa that deprived the various people of Africa their freedom to self-government (Ifeanacho 136). Thus, the political thoughts of African leaders at different points and countries were meant to be final assaults upon the denial of the people’s fundamental human rights and freedom, which was exhibited. as of the time slavery and colonialism. The political thought was directed on two great dangers that threatened African States and Continent – colonialism and racism.
Indeed, the political thoughts guarded Africans through the liberation struggle for independence, and they seemed tilted towards Marxist theory. This is understandable as most of the African leaders felt that the pillar of colonialism is capitalism, and capitalism, in turn, restricted them from participating in the processes of production and distribution of resources (Etekpe 51). In the scenario, the colonised African people became the peasant and relegated to the status of slaves in their own States. This un-conducive circumstance “forced” them to demand for political independence.
A boast to African political thoughts emerged between 1920 and 1945 when the Pan African Conferences (PACs) was held in Manchester. This period witnessed intense political activities and intellectual creativity by a new class of people in different states in Africa. It was these classes of intelligentsia that propounded a new realm of philosophy of political liberation that is today known as African political thought (Charlyle 64).
As a separate field of study, African political thought is a relatively new discipline. It was only in the late 1960s that it emerged as different and distinct from the so called western political philosophy. In essence, African political thought refers to the original ideas, values, principles, beliefs, and blue prints of African people for the betterment of their continent in different respects (Ifeanacho 25). African political thought covers the political systems, political values and institutions from the ancient period to the present day. More importantly, African political thought also refers to the political theories, philosophies and ideologies developed by various native African scholars and statesmen, as articulated in their speeches, autobiographies, writings, and policy statements in different periods (Guy Martin 19).
Suffice it to say therefore that African political thought is a product of African history, culture and personality. It is a history of a people who had an independent way of life until they were gradually incorporated in the 16th century into the European Capitalist world. This incorporation started from mercantile trade and graduated to slave trade, legitimate trade and finally colonialism (Armah 52). African political thought is a collective effort of African leaders to challenge colonialism, balkanisation, racism and neo-colonialism, on the one hand and to demand political independence on the other hand. It is a frontal challenge of the imperial powers of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, etc that colonised one territory or the other on the African continent from the time after Berlin Conference of 1884.
- Statement of the Problem
The discourse on African political thoughts and philosophies has been a neglected field of study. Researches on African political values and systems have remains quite marginal. Even some studies on Africa declared the claim that African people do not have philosophy in general and political philosophy in particular. This Eurocentric claim came to reality due to the absence of scholarly researches in the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial African indigenous political thoughts and values. As a separate field of study, African political thought is a relatively new discipline. It was only in the late 1960s that is emerged as different and distinct from other so called western political philosophy. The basic problem of this research is to examine why import thesis has continued to influence African Political Thought.
