History of the Kenyan Philosophy Journal Thought and Practice
Lecture by Oriare Nyarwath
Part of the Workshop Places of African Philosophies
In his lecture on the “History of the Kenyan Philosophy Journal Thought and Practice,” Oriare Nyarwath provides an insightful overview of the inception, evolution, and impact of the journal within the African philosophical landscape. Thought and Practice was established in 1973 by prominent Kenyan philosopher Henry Odera Oruka, who also founded the Philosophical Association of Kenya the same year. Oruka, alongside Joseph Nyasani, were among the first Kenyan philosophers academically trained in philosophy, tasked with challenging prevailing colonial assumptions about the capabilities of African intellectuals in philosophical discourse.
The journal’s foundational objective was to foster philosophical engagement beyond purely academic boundaries, explicitly aiming to address social and political realities across the African continent. From its first publication in 1974, Thought and Practice sought to promote the practical application of philosophical insights to societal issues, reflecting Oruka’s belief in philosophy as a dynamic tool for societal critique and transformation.
Initially active until 1982, the journal experienced a period of dormancy due to resource limitations before its revival in 2009 by Oriare Nyarwath and his colleagues Francis Owakah and Reginald Oduor. Relaunched as an open-access online publication, Thought and Practice continues to be a crucial platform for philosophical discourse, predominantly featuring contributions from Nigeria and East Africa but seeking greater inclusivity across the continent.
Nyarwath emphasizes ongoing challenges, notably linguistic barriers among anglophone, francophone, and lusophone philosophical communities in Africa, highlighting a need for initiatives to bridge these divides. His presentation concludes with a reflection on the potential for multilingual collaborations and conferences as future avenues to enhance philosophical exchange and integration across Africa.