Towards a functional democracy with African values

Abstract

Democracy in Africa has been threatened by a lot of problems such as terrorism, violence, ethnicity, corruption, misappropriation, embezzlement and disrespect for local value systems. Indeed, disrespect for local value systems such as family, cultural, moral, political, economic, human, religious and social values are some of the central factors affecting democratic institution in Africa. While it is important to emphasize the urgent need for mutual respect among Africans; for the necessity of love and an appreciation of native value systems, it is also pertinent to undertake a philosophical re-evaluation of the aforementioned for a better democratic system in Africa. The need for an integration of traditional systems into the postmodernist rationality that underpin contemporary life in the African continent remains necessary for improved democratic system in Africa. The major concern of this paper is to see how these can improve African democratic system.