Philosophy of African culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philosophy of African culture - Essay Example The African culture has a special concern and regard for the cosmos and the humanity’s place in the cosmos. Most of the African stories are crafted concerning nature, animals , tricksters ad other themes with the common aim being explaining the existence of some occurrences that are perceived by the humanity to be controlled by the divine, and beyond the humanity control. Family values are very important in the Asian stories, with families occupying a special place in the lives of all members. How the tortoise got its rough shell is one of the stories that define the relations between cosmos and humanity in the African culture. Though the story is a trickster, it has a good lesson on the role of humanity in the universe as characterized by the animals. This story is a characterization of animals that were going to the heavens to see God Eke in appeasing him to send forth rains to quench the scorched earth, and bring about produce. From the story, the tortoise had to attend but had no wings to fly, so the birds accepted to donate each a feather to help the tortoise (Uche, 2). As the story narrates, the animals agree on brotherhood and so should help one another (Uche,3). The animals agree to sacrifice in order to appease Eke to send rain and end starvation that had claimed many lives (Uche, 4). The story explains of selfishness (Uche, 7) where the eagle remarks that the tortoise stands better to be sacrificed and the tortoise shows his selfishness by tricking others into eating all the food offered (Uche, 8). From the story above the aspect of humanity in the universe is evident. ... Hard work with no visible goals leads Temba to recount his 30 years of hard work in his daily labor with nothing to show of it (Achebe and Innes, 67). Again in this story, the sun has scorched the earth and humans are hungry again as Temba’s family still count on him to deliver failure to which they might die. The presence of a deity or god who provides in times of difficulty and despair is clear as Temba is provided with a meal for the family after hunger bites hard with no fish to catch (Achebe & Innes, 68). As Temba monologue continues, he wishes that the humanity on earth appease the Gods to send forth rains to end the suffering. This narrative portrays a good relation between God, man and the interdependence of man on God, in times of despair. The strong faith in African culture is evident that enables Temba to get food form God to feed his family. Drought is seen as a punishment from God. Wake, is another African story that spells of despair and desperation in times of n eeds. The story is about the shootings of Soweto in South Africa and largely narrates of the ordeal of death and how it is viewed in the African culture. The signing choirs explain a religious nature of the African people and the respect that the dead are given in their last send off (Achebe and Innes, 33). Death is viewed with a lot of respect in the African culture with multitudes paying their last respects and God appeased through songs for the sake of the dead. The sanctity and belief in respecting the human life is clear (35) as the narrator curses the whites who she accuses of being responsible for the death of their daughters and sons. All the above stories portray a strongly