Hosted by the Institute for the Study of the Englishes of Africa (ISEA), this lecture features Professor Simphiwe Sesanti, who will argue that ancient Egyptian philosophy of education, an indigenous African tradition, must be reclaimed and centred on teacher education not only in South Africa but wherever Africans are.

Note: If you would like to attend virtually, please email c.leff@ru.ac.za for the Zoom link.

Abstract

In 2003, almost a decade after South Africa’s 1994 first democratic elections, an academic debate emerged about the need to include the indigenous African philosophy of education in teacher education. Subsequently, Ubuntu philosophy has been given attention in philosophy for teacher education. However, ancient Egyptian philosophy of education, an indigenous African tradition, is absent while European and Asian philosophies of education are centred, leaving space for some philosophers of education to falsely attribute the genesis of philosophy, in general, and philosophy of education, in particular, to Europe and Asia since the two are dated while Ubuntu philosophy of education is not dated. In this public lecture, I argue that the ancient Egyptian philosophy of education must be reclaimed and centred on teacher education not only in South Africa but wherever Africans are. Such an approach will not only expose Africans to their rich philosophical heritage but will help to reclaim African philosophy’s space as a leader of humankind in the history of philosophy.

Biography
Simphiwe Sesanti is a Professor at the University of the Western Cape (UWC)’s Faculty of Education. He is a former Editor of the International Journal of African Renaissance Studies (IJARS). He holds two PhDs, one in Journalism Studies (Stellenbosch University), and another in Philosophy (Wits University). He has taught at Stellenbosch University’s Journalism Department, at the Nelson Mandela University’s Department of Journalism, Media and Philosophy and at the University of South Africa (UNISA)’s Institute for African Renaissance Studies (IARS). He has published in accredited journals on a variety of issues, including Education, African Philosophy, Gender, Journalism, Politics and Spirituality (Religion). He is an author of two books, a co-editor of one book, and a contributor of chapters in a number of books. In 2018 he was awarded an NRF rating, C2.