African moral values and the value of the Luba
conception of God. In a time when the notion of
primitive people was taken for granted, Tempels
shocked the European world by choosing as the
title for his discovery of Luba worldview “Bantu
philosophy,” rather than “primitive philoso-
phy” or “religious thought,” as Marcel Griaule
did with the philosophy of the Dogon. He
demystified the colonial invention of a savage
Africa by demonstrating the existence of a
coherent Bantu ontology, a sound system of
belief in the Supreme Being, and a coherent eth-
ical system that guides African existential trajec-
tory. Well before the proclamation of the United
Nations’ Charter of Human Rights, Tempels
argued that the Bantu have a clear vision of
human dignity and the rights of the individual.
He even speculated on the relationship between
Pharaonic Egypt and Bantu philosophy. This
was radically antithetical to the prevailing
Hegelian Paradigm, Social Darwinism, and
Levy-Bruhlian theories of primitivism. Although
Tempels still remained captive of the colonial
worldview and the belief in the superiority of
Christianity, his mea culpa opened the door to a
radical demystification of colonial scholarship.
This is why the fathers of the Negritude
Movement, such as Leopold Sedar Senghor
and Alioune Diop, and the nascent publishing
house “Presence Africaine” embraced Tempels
and promoted the book in French and English
translations.
Bantu Philosophy is therefore not simply a
book or the philosophy of the Bantu people, but
also a way of thinking that honors African
humanity by acknowledging “African rational-
ity” and a meaningful African presence in world
religions and in the global community of
philosophers.
Mutombo Nkulu-N’SenghaSee alsoCosmology; Ontology
Further Readings
Kagame, A. (1966).La Philosophie Bantu-Rwandaise de
L’Etre. New York: Johnson Reprint.
Tempels, P. (1959).Bantu Philosophy.Paris: Presence
Africaine.
BANYANKORE
Banyankoreis a word spoken in the Bantu family
of languages and corresponds to “the people of
Nkore,” comprising the Bahima (singular
Muhima) and theBairu(singularMwiru), two rel-
atively autonomous peoples cohabiting Nkore
near the end of the 15th century. Runyankore, a
form of Bantu, is the traditional language of both
Bahima and the Bairu. When the British arrived at
the turn of the 20th century, Nkore was one of
four kingdoms in East-Central Africa located
among the high plateaus and fertile plains that
make up the southwest region of present-day
Uganda. Upon incorporation into the Ugandan
Protectorate in 1901, Nkore became known as the
province of Ankole.
Distinct and markedly different ways of life
characterized Bahima and Bairu economic, politi-
cal, and social structures. The Bahima were pas-
toralists whose primary means of subsistence
centered on cattle herding. Meat and dairy prod-
ucts such as butter and milk formed the basis of
the Bahima diet. Gifting cattle served as a means
of obtaining patronage from local authorities and
the principal dowry exchanged during weddings.
Military regimen and warfare, especially against
encroaching cattle thieves, was a regular aspect of
Bahiman life. The political structure revealed a
centralized government administered through a
monarchial system of leadership. Control of the
government rested with theMugabe, or king, who
was chosen from among a Bahima clan called the
Bahinda. AnEnganzi, or court favorite, served as
personal counsel to the Mugabe.
In contrast to this seminomadic existence,
Bairu life was sedentary and largely communal or
clan-based in nature. The cultivation of vegetables
was the primary means of subsistence and formed
the greater part of the Bairu diet. An artisan class
existed and produced pottery for Bahima cattle
herders and weaponry for Bahima warriors.
Although intermarriage between the two groups
was exceptional, some Bairu did become local
authorities within the Bahima political framework
through marriage to Bahima women.
Cultural life in Nkore revolved around the
Bagyendanwa, or royal drums. The Banyankore
connected the Bagyendanwa to the historicalBanyankore 105