Introduction

Most foreigners who set foot on African soil fall in love with the continent. They are spellbound by the natural beauty of Africa and its deep tradition. Though currently besieged by innumerable political and economic challenges, Africa is a proud continent that contributed to the rise of civilizations. Colonialism in Africa was like a nuclear war or a holocaust. It devastated the continent and continues to linger, becoming the worst nightmare in the history of Africa. Despite some sincere efforts by international organizations and foreign countries to mitigate its woes, Africa continues to stutter in the quagmire of poverty, and her voice remains underrepresented in the international political landscape. Regardless, the true picture of Africa is not lost. This book is one more effort to carry forward the viable past into the future. If Africa has to be launched in a meaningful development endeavor, both Africans and foreigners need to understand what existed in the past and what lessons we can take for the future. The introduction provides highlights of the book such as the fundamentals of African traditional philosophies and the current upheavals in governance of post-colonial African states.