The Indispensability of the Basic Social Values in African Tradition: A Philosophical Appraisal

Abstract

There are indispensable basic social values in African tradition which are for genuine development. The West in her own ways has attempted to jettison these values for theirs to take place, but in all, it is seen that theirs do not tally with the African society. Also, the Western aim is to render Africa dependent on them. The indispensability of African basic values presupposes that Africa has value system that is in consonance with her environment and conditions, and any way to displace it renders the society backward. These values are the guiding principles for genuine development which must remain indispensable to the Western values of colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism. With emphasis on these basic values by her leadership the future of Africa (and Nigeria in particular) will be of radical development. Introduction The question of value is akin to human society and activities. Every society has set of values, covering every aspect of human endeavour. These values are the guiding principles found in any society. Over years there have been the agitation and clamour for invigorating and maintaining durable and lasting positive values in Nigeria. Like the West, Africa (and Nigeria in particular) has its own cultural values or value system. These values cover the whole ramifications of the society, and these values apparently play regulating roles in human relationship and also stabilizing factors of the society. Value system is the cultural outlook of the people and the understanding of the value system of the people is the understanding of the belief system and cultural system of the people in question. The questions arise, if every society has its value system why the campaign for maintenance of positive, durable and lasting values? Is our value system waning away in the face of threatening alien values of colonialism, imperialism and neo colonialism? There is no gainsaying that our value system is in the process of