THE BASIS OF AFRICAN EPISTEMOLOGY

Abstract

There is a current debate between two philosophical traditions- African and Western traditions respectively. While scholars of Western traditions argue that African epistemology is a product of epistemology in the West, scholars of African tradition are of the opinion that it is a knowledge claim that is rooted in the world-views and culture of Africans. These two controversial positions make it difficult for one to clearly identify the root of African epistemology. This research has been an attempt to examine the basis of African epistemology. The paper understood African epistemology to mean the indigenous science which advocates for unique ways of knowing that are common among Africans. The position of the paper is that African epistemology is the product of indigenous science; its foundation is built around traditional epistemic categories such as divination, narrative tradition and individual participation etc.