The multifaceted landscape of contemporary African philosophies represents diverse viewpoints on the nature, origin, characteristics and history of philosophies that can be categorized as African. This lively discourse reflects the rich linguistic and cultural context of philosophical inquiry in Africa, with scholars offering varied perspectives on the ongoing conversation. While Paulin Hountondji defines African philosophy as a “a set of texts, specifically the set of texts written by Africans and described as philosophical by their authors themselves” (African Philosophy: Myth and Reality), Valentin-Yves Mudimbe emphasizes the need for African philosophers to be aware and critically acknowledge the non-African origins of their epistemological tools and pleads for a counter-anthropological recapture of African subjectivity (The Invention of Africa).

The international workshop “Places of African Philosophies” will be an occasion to address African philosophies in a pluralistic topical and topological dimension. Rather than attempting to provide a response to the question “What is African philosophy?”, we invite African scholars and scholars of African philosophy to reflect on where these philosophies arise, flourish and evolve. This is in line with Bruce Janz’ proposition of a “philosophy-in-place” which begins from the places in which philosophical concepts have value and meaning (Philosophy in an African Place).

Organized by Anke Graness, Monika Rohmer, Abbed Kanoor, Lara Hofner, Abosede Ipadeola, and Birgit Benzing.