The Program in African Ideals and Institutions
The Program in African Ideals and Institutions at Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya is dedicated to promoting the study and understanding of African Ideals and Institutions within a broad historical, social, and philosophical context.
African ideals, such as government by consensus, reciprocity, community solidarity, and respect for elders, have long been recognized as strengths of African society. The decline of these ideals, and of the institutions that express and accompany them, is usually viewed as the inevitable consequence of colonial rule and modernization. Some have argued that the introduction of Western ideas and institutions has weakened the conceptual framework of African society, thereby undermining its very foundation.
Indigenous African culture and thought has, notwithstanding, shown a capacity to adopt and appropriate Western principles and practices. Evidence suggests not only that much can be learned from examining African customs and traditions, but also that both African and non-African societies stand to benefit from an understanding of each other's ideals and institutions. The program is particularly interested in examining the circumstances of interaction between African and non-African societies and the relevance of indigenous African institutions to contemporary social and political problems.
The Witherspoon Institute supports the various scholarly activities that the Program in African Ideals and Institutions carries out in order to meet its objectives. Dr. David Sperling is the director of this program.
Updated September 27, 2007