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Lovemore Ranga Mataire The Reader
There is an interesting debate going on in academic circles about the need to embrace an afro-centred framework upon which Africans must view themselves in relation to the world, in science, politics and how they view literature.
The idea of embracing an afro-centred perspective comes from the realisation that in the so-called globalised sphere, the African being has been reduced to a mere certified consumer of other peoples’ nightmares and gory inventions.
In a paper titled “Healing the World: The Divine Role of Africa-Centred Metaphysics” former University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Augustine Maruva Tirivangana asserts that Africa needs to rescue its glorious past, which is a source of foundational inspiration for the continent to navigate various facets of development.
Dr Tirivangani posits that Africa is the cradle of civilisation and it is that civilisation that evolved out of an understanding of the cosmos as well as the valorisation of the metaphysical author of cosmogony.
“Appreciation metaphysics created a stable and balanced cosmos. Everything including technology was designed to celebrate order in the Universe. That is what begot the first civilisation. Civilisation then meant living in harmony with fellow mankind, with the environment and with the cosmos as a whole. It was based on a clear understanding of the interdependence between the departed as well as the organic relationship between man, animal and nature,” says Dr Tiriva- ngani.
It is Dr Tirivangani’s argument that there is a yawning gap between civilisation and technological advancement, which came as a result of the sinking of the metaphysics of unhu or ubuntu as enshrined in the living law of Ma’at by a brutish capitalist system – that celebrate unbridled pursuit of profit regardless of any moral price.
Technotheism and moneytheism combined diabolically to unleash chaos unto the world.
According to Dr Tirivangani, universal politics is now dictated by the desires of a few who stop at nothing to create a world order where humanity is reduced to a commodity.
“Wars and more wars have become the order of the day, threatening the whole world with extinction. Is it not time to reflect; to call reason to account?” asks Dr Tirivangani.
Indeed, its not contestable as asserted by Dr Tirivangani, that Africa has lost its metaphysical locus as a result of several foreign induced imperial interventions culminating in the present intellectual, moral and cultural cacophonies that tear Africans apart. It is thus not in doubt that Africa can restore its glory as the citadel of civilisation by returning to the “the way” with the hope that the world takes a leaf as it has done before from Africa’s return to “the way”.
The metaphysics of ubuntu has the divine role to heal the world of various types of sicknesses: social, cultural, spiritual, intellectual, psychological and material.
Dr Tirivangani’s assertions are rooted in the understanding that there is no literature that challenges the fact that Africa is the cradle of civilisation. The fact that Africa is the cradle of civilisation is born out of the fact the remains of the earliest man are in Africa. There is, therefore, no question that the Egyptian civilisation that gave birth to the Great Pyramids is primarily a black or African civilisation, a fact which is confirmed by Herodotus, one of the earliest Greek historians.
Quoting George James, Dr Tirivangani says ancient Egyptians had developed a very complex religious system, called the Mysteries, which was regarded as the first system of salvation. He argues that the religion regarded the human body as a prison-house of the soul, which could be liberated from its bodily impediments. James’ thesis proves that this African religion and philosophy later became the basis of Greek civilisation through copying and pilferage.
Unfortunately, imperialism has made sure that Africans remained ignorant of their organic connection with the infinite spirit of the Universe by controlling what is taught in schools and universities; controlling institutions of science, the media and what the media considers possible in its arrogant dismissal of anything perceived as challenging the “norm”.
Online Reporter