THE CONCEPT OF NEGRITUDE AND ITS EFFECT ON AFRICAN COMMUNAL SOCIO-POLITICAL LIFE

Abstract

One of the main features of African life style is Communalism. It is a system of life that integrates communal ownership and federations of highly localized independent communities. Communalism is anchored on blood relationship and fortified by marriage ties and as such human/individual dignity, rights and responsibilities are valued. Communalism offers the opportunity to relate with nature and accepts the unity of every individual and other simple entity, enabling Africans to commune with their gods. This unity could be observed in the entire gamut of their existence including their social, political, economic and even cultural life. The introduction of Negritude into African lexicon by Leopold S. Senghor and Aimé Césaire captured the entire African life, both philosophically, politically, anthropologically and socially. Both as a concept and as a movement Negritude to encapsulate, promote and indeed celebrate the Africanness of Black People. Philosophical analytic method is adopted in the effects of Negritude on the African communal socio-political life. As a protest against colonialism and racism on Africans, Negritude defines the African personality, history, culture, pride and values from a uniquely African perspective. However, communalism remains an African identity and enable man recognize his individuality, in the universality. The interaction and inter-communication between man and nature no doubt spins the kind of unprecedented harmony found in communalism. Though uncommon in societies such as socialism, capitalism, Africans are expected to appreciate who they are in spite of the effects of Negritude on the praxis of communalism.