PLS1502 ASSIGNMENT 3 SEMESTER 2 2025 *COMPLETE ANSWERS* DUE DATE 12 SEPTEMBER 2025 (BEST ANSWERS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT)

INTRODUCTION African Philosophy has been a contested domain within global philosophical discourse, not only because of its diverse content and practices but also because of the challenges associated with defining what counts as philosophy in the African context. Samuel E. Imbo describes African Philosophy as “highly coded,” a characterization that highlights the intricate and multi-layered nature of African intellectual traditions (Imbo, Year). This “coding” refers to the embeddedness of African philosophical thought in cultural, historical, and social contexts, which makes it resistant to simplistic or externally imposed definitions. Unlike Western philosophical traditions that prioritize abstract reasoning, formal logic, and universalist claims, African Philosophy often arises from communal knowledge systems, oral narratives, proverbs, rituals, and indigenous epistemologies, all of which carry meanings that are deeply tied to their specific social and historical settings (Masolo, 1994; Wiredu, 1996). Understanding why Imbo considers African Philosophy highly coded requires an examination of how he defines African Philosophy, the political and epistemological assumptions inherent in its definition, the historical impact of European rationality claiming universality, and the continued relevance of these debates in contemporary African philosophical practice. This essay critically explores these dimensions, demonstrating that the coding of African Philosophy is not a limitation but a reflection of its cultural richness, historical resilience, and intellectual sophistication.