This document provides an overview of African ethics. It begins with learning objectives about being able to identify definitions of African ethics and understand the African dimension of ethics compared to other traditions. It then discusses background on how Western scholars have viewed morality in Africa and whether there is an African ethics. Several definitions of African ethics are presented from scholars like Mbiti, Gyekye, Azenabor, Omoregbe, and Metz. Students are asked to discuss and compare the definitions of African ethics from these scholars on the class forum.

1. P H Y 2 1 9
A F R I C A N
E T H I C S
• A N O V E R V I E W
O F A F R I C A N
E T H I C S
( A R E C A P W I T H
N A R R A T I O N )
A D E M O L A
F A Y E M I

2. L E S S O N O B J E C T I V E S
• At the end of this lesson, students should be able to identify at
least three definitions of African ethics
• It is expected that after this lesson, students should be able
to understand the African dimension to ethics in relation to
ethics in other intellectual traditions
• Having walked you through this lesson, you are enjoined
to participate in the question designed for discussion on the
class forum platform. Your responses to the questions
would not be graded but noted (with feedbacks).

3. B A C K G R O U N D
• Western scholars have tended to use the word ‘morality’ rather than ethics when discussing
moral values in the African context. Why is this so?
• One answer could be that articulated systematic thinking underlying African societies’ moral
codes is minimal and began to take concerted efforts in contemporary African philosophical
scholarship.
• But is it not obscure to associate stipulated forms of moral behaviour with the name of a
discipline such as ethics and deny a group of people as lacking it? Is there African ethics?
Are there common grounds in the many accounts of ethics from the African space? Indeed,
how do we conceive ethics, and what defines the Africaness of an ethics?
• Albeit other cogent definitions, one way of defining ethics is to say that it is an articulated
systematic thinking about morality and the reasoned principles it produces.

4. D E F I N I T I O N S O F A F R I C A N E T H I C S
• Consider for instance, J.S. Mbiti’s view on African ethics in his
African Religions and Philosophy.
• He sees African ethics as “the African system of morality based on
African cultural beliefs with a religious foundation.”
• For Kwame Gyekye, “African ethics refers both to the moral beliefs
and presuppositions of the sub-Saharan African people and the
philosophical clarification and interpretation of those beliefs and
presuppositions.”

5. • Azenabor, for instance, states that an African indigenous ethics
revolves around the Golden Rule (GR) principle as the ultimate
moral principle – “Do unto others what you want them to do unto
you.”
• The GR principle starts from the self and considers the
consequences on self before others. It is grounded on human
interest and welfare as the basis of moral actions.
• In light of the above, one may ask what are the moral theories in
African ethics and can they be considered as rivals or
complements to the known Western moral theories such as

6. •Azenabor defines African ethics as that “branch of
African philosophy, which deals with the critical
reflection on the manner, or nature of life,
conduct behaviour and character of the African”
•The first part of the earlier mentioned definition of
African ethics by Gyekye pointed to the salient African
moral beliefs or features; the ideas of the Africans on
morally good life and their thought as reflected in or
generated by African moral language, social structure,
and life.

7. • The second part has to do with the ethical theories that have evolved.
Efforts towards normative theorization about right actions is minimal in
African ethics – Godwin Azenabor’s golden rule principle, Thaddeus
Metz’s Ubuntu African moral theory, Elvis Imafidon’s ontologized ethical
theory, amongst others.
• For Joseph Omoregbe, “African ethics is a science concerned with the
question of right and wrong in human behaviour within the African
mindset.”
• According to Thaddeus Metz, “African ethics is the work done
by contemporary moral theorists that is significantly informed
by features salient among the beliefs and practices of the
indigenous black people below the Sahara Desert.”

8. D I S C U S S I O N T H R E A D O N C L A S S
F O R U M
• Compare Metz’s and Gyekye’s conceptions of African ethics. Comparatively consider as
well, the views of Omoregbe and Azenabor on what African ethics is. Which of the four
definitions of African ethics do you find most convincing, and why? Provide your answer
in not more than 200 words. Your answer should be submitted on the class forum
platform of the LMS. (Your answers will not to be graded)