Human Rights in African Religions and Philosophy

This book aims at creating an exploratory forum for further academic discussion and research in the cross-cultural approach to human rights. Our purpose is to redirect human rights research along a cross-cultural path, and by so doing, legitimize human rights in African societies, a legitimacy to be based on the historical and cultural collectivity of Africans, one that derives from their local experience, one that they can relate to and make sense of, and therefore respect, honor and promote without suspicion or skepticism. This is not to suggest a fresh attempt to redefine human rights or to develop a new concept of rights; this is to anchor the existing human rights within the cultural milieu of the African people. This way, the carriers of African cultures may have a reason to appreciate, respect and recognize human rights as truly universal. It is our hope that this book will serve as pioneer in creating a regional platform for the cross-cultural analysis and interpretation of African cultural values as a bedrock of the international human rights norms.