The Horn of Africa has long been shaped by complex histories of colonialism, conflict, and globalized modernity, often narrated through frameworks imposed from outside the region. This panel seeks to reimagine the Horn of Africa through the lens of Indigenous Humanism, centering local philosophies, cultural knowledge, and relational worldviews that have sustained communities for centuries. By engaging with indigenous epistemologies, rooted in social harmony, collective care, and ecological balance, this panel explores how humanistic values from the region can offer alternative pathways for peace, social cohesion, and equitable development. Panelists will draw from diverse disciplines such as oral literature, literature, history, philosophy, art, and cultural studies such as, Gada, Ugazi, Gichacha, Ubuntu from South African, and other localized humanist philosophies offer pathways for addressing contemporary challenges, including governance, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion. In addition, the panel tries to illuminate indigenous perspectives on personhood, community, and governance. The panel also critically interrogates the lingering impact of Western, colonial, and post-colonial hilosophies while advocating for a renewed understanding of the Horn of Africa’s future grounded in indigenous humanism. Through this conversation, the panel aims to contribute to a broader discourse on decolonizing knowledge production and advancing sustainable futures within the region.
Email Teferi Tafa at tafenug@gmail.com by March 20 to submit to this panel if you have research paper related to this.
