Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion

BOOK REVIEW
Title: INTRODUCING AFRICAN SCIENCE: SYSTEMATIC
AND PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACHi
Author: Jonathan O. Chimakonam Ph.D
Discipline: Philosophy/ African Studies/ Science
Category: Philosophy of Science
Publisher: Author House Bloomington Indiana, 2012
ISBN: 978 1 4772 4944 4 (sc)
ISBN: 978 1 4772 4943 7 (hc)
ISBN: 978 1 4772 4942 0 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012913091
Price: $ 20
Pages: i xxvi, 1 141

Reviewer: Prof. C.B. Nze

Department of Philosophy
Madonna University, Okija,
Nigeria.
This book Introducing African Science: Systematic and
Philosophical Approach Authored by Dr. Jonathan O.
Chimakonam and published by AuthorHouse, Bloomington
Indiana USA in 2012 is, without doubt, unique, valuable and
captivating. To introduce African Science is an audacious venture:
it is a pre-supposition of the existence of a science that can be said
to be African. To indicate that it can be systematically and
philosophically approached is another audacious statement. Asi
Okuko na nke obu nonu ebuka owerekwa ukwu nabota ozo. But
Dr. Chimakonam is not an idiot: he knows the difference between
Confucius and confusion. Go through the book and observe a
display of originality, dexterity, skill, learning and knowledge
therein contained.
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In this one hundred and sixty seven (167) page book, a truly
Multus in parvo, Dr. Chimakonam sets out tactfully and
thoughtfully to establish that Africa has a peculiar thought
system which undergirds a peculiar logic and science. The author
maps out the African logic as three-valued different from the threevalued logical creation in the West. This, I think forms the
foundation of the entire work. For without this logical difference, it
would have been vain to talk about African science. People are apt
to ask: why African science? What would be the focus and utility
of African science? Understanding the need and direction of the
logic of this work provides immediate answers to these questions.
To me the chief value of this work and of course, its greatest
intellectual value lies in the formulation of this unique logic.
Thinking of this magnitude has been lacking among African
intellectuals. Logic lies at the foundation of everything, once it is
established, every other form of theorizing takes shape. Aristotle
was the man to do it in the Western tradition, creating the
foundation upon which theorists of different inclination can build
their thought. Logic therefore is the foundation of thought. We
cannot correctly do African philosophy, mathematics, science, etc.,
without first laying a logical foundation for such. The practice
which has grown uncontrolled since the colonial times in which
African intellectuals seek to construct native African theories upon
the logical foundation of the West are simply misguided. Western
intellectuals read such works and toss it aside because they see
nothing different in it from what they have since accomplished.
What this author has done therefore, is like unveiling an Africa the
world never knew existed. By first mapping out African thought
system and systematizing its unique logic, he sets the stage for
others to follow and build other theories of African nativity. In this
work, he systematizes and strengthens Africas age long scientific
practices; a magnificent rebirth of old knowledge and a torrential
gift of fresh discovery. Only history and posterity would probably
come to understand what invaluable impact this noble project

Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion

would make to the life and story of the black man wherever he is in
the world. Indeed, this is a book right on time but ahead of its time!
In writing this ground breaking book, Dr. Chimakonam in his own
words, gave a historical and metaphysical background to the
theory of African science and offered a justification for the
project, this consists in the question: why African science? His
justifications can be summarized in three points: (i) the need for
Africa to re-enter history and contribute to world civilization (ii)
the need for an alternative science to augment Western science and
cushion some of its defects such as ecological concerns and threats
of all kinds (iii) the need for a science that can offer safe and
adequate energy to the world. Everyone who is in tune with the
developments in Western science and our world today would agree
with Chimakonam that an alternative science is long overdue.
In the page thirteen, he began describing and mapping out the logic
of our science. It consists of two opposite values of truth and
falsehood and a go-between value (third) called ezumezu or the
complemented. Further, he stresses that the two conventional
values are contraries in African logic rather than contradictories of
Western orientation. This enables the two to hold at the same time.
In his words:
T represents truth, F represents falsehood, the C
represents complemented, and so instead of seeing
C as neither true nor false, African logicians see it
as both true and false. This is because African logic
does not recognize the law of non-contradiction but
that of complementarity. By this law of
complementarity two different realities are seen as
contraries and can cohabit. What happens however
is that at their point of complementation, both
realities lose their identities within the
complementary mode. And they are treated as a full
being, complete and not fragmented. So one cannot
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say of the complemented it is true or it is false or

even it is neither true nor false but that it is both true
and false. (22)
One clearly notices the genius in this mans formulation and of
course, its reality in our day to day reasoning as Africans. As
Africans, we do not strictly hold to views. There is always a mid
point where two seemingly opposed variables can be reconciled.
And in my view, this logic would usher in a better science. This
was what Aristotle did in the 3rd century B.C when he studies the
thought system of the Western people and came up with a logic
that models it. Now, it is called universal almost in opposition to
any other possible logic. Every logic naturally, if it holds merit at
all, should be capable of universal applicability but this does not
negate its nativity. Like Aristotles logic, Chimakonian logic has a
universal applicability or as it is said, the character of topicneutrality (29).
It is based upon this logical framework that Chimakonam
constructed the theory of African science. He produces the
hermeneutical understanding of some fundamental scientific terms
like space, matter, anti-matter and energy all of which gives ribs to
African science. In one word, this attempt is the first of its kind in
the known history of African studies. The author progresses to
discuss nature, time, motion, thought and extension hoping to use
explanations extracted to crust the work. To further fortify the
sinews of African science, special methodology of African science,
its laws, theories, criteria and other principles including African
logic and the principle of deniability are treated. Halfway through
the book, there is an outpouring of intellectuality, a milling out of
Igbo African scientific terms and terminologies and a
practicalization of African science.
The criteria for African science consisted in nine principles he
discussed that must be in place before one can be said to be doing
African science. These are: (i) Usoro (process) (ii) Njiko Ala-

Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion

mm na Ala-mmadu (confluence of the natural and the subnatural worlds) (iii) Mmeputa isiokwu (articulation of research
problem) (iv) Mmeputa achba (formulation of hypothesis) (v)
Icho-z (experiment) (vi) Omenala (theory) (vii) Icha-z (setting
aside) (viii) Iwu (law) (ix) Inabata na iju Achba (asserting and
denying of hypothesis). These criteria helps in his systematization
to draw a line between what qualifies as African science from the
residue of unscientific practices. But from the items on this list,
one readily sees the presence of African logic and the uniqueness
of African science. The criterion numbered (ii) above shows the
effect of the complementarity of the two contrary values in African
logic. Also implied is the necessity of the metaphysical in African
science. African scientists see metaphysics as a necessary part of
scientific discourse. Its position is entrenched and as such it
cannot be wished away.
They see the sub-particles as
metaphysical realities and know that they have crossed into
mainstream metaphysics when they conduct experiments with
these sub-particles. Hence, metaphysics is not a bad sign for the
African scientists (97). In page (94) he observes, However, even
after this systematization, metaphysics looks quite hard to wish
away from the main stream practice of African science. And in
(66) he notes African science recognizes that an adequate
scientific exercise must connect elements from the two worlds.
Nka-mmuta (scientific knowledge) is never produced in Alammadu outside Ije (motion) and the source of Ije is Ala-mm. In
fact there can be no science without the two being pulled together.
The worlds referred to are the empirical and the metaphysical. He
has also employed the terms natural and sub-natural as their
synonyms (40-44).
The author also discussed the methods of African science to
include: (i) Ak-nwalee (Trial and error) (ii) Ak-iju-ase
(Interscience) (iii) Ak-ime-obi (Introscience) (iv) Ak-nyiri-onwe
(Semscience) (v) Ak-nso-naz (causal science). One could see
the delicate systematization of procedures of old African scientific
practices here which sets it apart from those of the West. In his
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words:
Unlike Western science which captures nature and
employs different means to force scientific
knowledge out of her, African science approaches
nature with equanimity, like a man approaching a
maiden he wishes to marry, curious but gentle. This
is because the scientist is not different from nature
neither are his instruments. A man stitching own
wound is likely to be gentle. This gentility in
conducting scientific enquiries crystallizes in the
observance of Iwu-nnyiri-onwe (the law of
uniformity). This law ensures that as far as
experiments could be taken that there is a thin
membrane which must not be crossed. This thin line
is called in African science udo-ntupo (UDN) or the
dotted single helix. (52-53)
These accentuate some of the justifications the author offers at the
beginning of the work that an alternative science which can
engender safe science is needed.
Further, the author discusses some of the theories in African
science. They are (i) Uwa-ezu-oke (ii) dbendi (iii) Amas-amas
(iv) Ifeomimi. These give wide ideas and confirmation of the
existence of scientific practices in Ancient Africa. Without any
need for greater proof, a typical African reading this section sees
those normal, regular practices in his everyday life as the author
has ably re-articulated them in scientific terms.
His discussions on some laws of African science are equally
stellar. They are as follows: (i) Egwueji (The Law of the Means)
(ii) Iwuibe (Law of magnetism) (iii) iwundiiche (Law of
discordance) (iv) Iwu- nyiri-onwe (Law of Uniformity). You could
see the application of some of these which Chimakonam has
elevated to the status of laws in the everyday activities of the

Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion

African. It is so stunning that what was seamlessly done by

Africans have scientific undertone.
The authors discussion of the Schools of African Science is most
captivating. There are two rival schools in African Science namely,
the transcendentalists and the mechanists. The transcendentalists
hold that the goal of science is to provide a true description of a
certain part of the world namely, the material and the anti-material
worlds. They hold that the non-material world, the source of
motion and scientific inspiration cannot be adequately described by
science since to do so, scientific knowledge must not only precede
but also be independent of the non-material world. Since this is
not the case, the transcendentalists prefer to treat claims about the
non-material world as Ifeomimi (mystery). On their side, the
mechanists hold that the goal of science is to provide a true
description of the world as a whole (92). And this includes the
natural and the sub-natural.
In the section on explanation in African science, the author pulled
resources from the theories of I. I. Asouzu, G. O. Ozumba and C.
O. Ijiomah to offer a veritable explanation to Africas scientific
practices. Some of such models of explanation he developed
include: (i) Ozumbas Integrative Humanism Model (IHM) (ii)
Ijiomahs Model of Harmony of Contraries (IMHC) (iii) Asouzus
Ibuanyidanda Model (AIM) (iv) Model of Causal Explanation
(MCE). The value of this section hinges on the models which the
author developed to explain the non-empirical aspect of African
science. In his words: It is Western sciences own bogus claim
that all there is (reality) can be explained using the principle of
empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol. The implication is that
anything which cannot be explained by science does not form part
of the gamut of reality(98). The author clearly shows how the
non-empirical can be explained within the ambit of African
science.

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On the whole, this work by Dr. Chimakonam is not without some

lapses. There is no academic work without lapses. It behooves an
objective reader to see the true lapses and point them out for
correction. For me, I think the greatest challenge this work has is
that it is set ahead of its time. For this, this work spells of some
great controversies. My modest advice to the intending reader is to
first set aside his convictions about science. I promise you this
work would brazenly decimate them if you dont. And in this,
Western scholars would be tempted to discredit it. African scholars
too, who are not conscious of the strangle-hold of Western thought
system and logic in their lives would be tempted to discredit it as
well. But this would be highly unfair and intellectually myopic.
One great thing about this work is that it laid its logical foundation
strongly, that if one should endaevour as little as to grasp that,
every other seemingly controversial claim would come up clear
and dissolved. Any further issue that would be left at all would be
a matter of possibility of practice and not merit. The merit of this
work for me is not in doubt. Its originality is praiseworthy. Its
significance for the African intellectual and for Africa is
tremendous. I have no greater problem with this work besides
normal academic disagreement and an insistence for improvement.
This however, is a common responsibility of all African scholars to
seek ways of improving this proposal of African science. Indeed, if
most African scholars should begin to write in this form rather than
the annoying commentaries we produce, issues like racism which
has its fundamental roots in the doubt of the Africans intellectual
ability would die sooner rather than later.
I reproduce here three golden paragraphs from the postscript of the
work which I believe is a food for thought for all African
intellectuals:
Alright, let us assume that in these sketchy paragraphs we have
systematized a section of African experience and it could now be
called science at least by our modest African standards; but what
then would be the challenges of this new discipline? Are schools

Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion

and universities likely to introduce courses in it? Is there a need

for a unique African science? What difference would it make?
Would the laboratories of this science be different from those of
the Western science? How do we raise technologies for this
science? How do we create awareness and promotion for this
science? Who are the African scientists?
I shall attempt to answer these questions although am not sure I
can fully answer the whys, the whats, the hows, and the wheres but
I know that I believe in the uniqueness and viability of this science.
Believe, because I do not have greater proof beyond what I have
written here. In these particularly difficult times where African
scholars do not see any need for this exercise, they ask: what can
African brand of science offer that the Western science could not
offer better? Can any section of African experience be properly
called scientific? Is it not a waste of time, energy and resources to
raise a new science where we already have a viable one? Indeed, it
does not make any sense for a typical African intellectual to moot
the idea of a unique African science and by an even greater
conviction, there is no need!
However, a tricky question looms large? Why have Western
trained African scientists not been able to invent at least in the
same ratio with their Western counterparts? A litany of excuses
could be produced in a flash of light a terrible window dressing!
They would blame lack of funding, lack of enabling environment;
lack of public and corporate motivation, lack of governmental
support etc., but what of lack of talent? In the days of soviet
socialism many hopeless men blamed governmental restrictions for
their inability to utilize their talents. When however the Soviet
Union collapsed and they secured their freedom, it came to light
that they did not have talents. A Western trained African scientist
who lost his natural African thought system has lost the use of his
talent. Talent is something that springs naturally when one thinks
within his native thought system. Losing ones thought system is
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tantamount to losing ones talent. A great legion of Western

trained African scientists have successfully emigrated to the
Western worlds where they met the diner set on the bed for them,
and in working in the same environment with their Western
counterparts have still not excelled. They become programmers,
lab assistants, research assistants but never inventors. If we
exclude a handful like Philip Emeagwali the rest are but men who
adopted the Western thought system but who found out they could
not think within it. Like the Igbo would say, they become like a
man separated from his chi, walking around a mere living dead. A
Western trained African scientist who also gave up his African
thought system (as most do) and adopted a Western thought system
is like a Jew in Babylonish captivity, how can he sing his native
song in a strange land? God who made us Africans and gave us
unique cultures and system of thought obviously intended those
frameworks to be our working tools. How can the African fare
better than the European in his native dance? Nor can the
European outdo the Asian in his native ways? How else can the
African contribute to the world civilization if he did not do so from
his native ways, like the European and the Asian do from theirs.
Western trained African scientists are like strangers in their land
and so cannot sing their native songs in a strange land. Highly
educated but lost and essentially useless to the world except of
course we choose to call them technicians rather than scientists!
We have the foreign legion and then the home legion but in all,
there are but an insignificant number who knew this fact and
retained their native thought system. Philip Emeagwali the man
who invented the internet is one such African. Recall that Bill
Clinton a onetime American president remarked that if Nigeria had
as few as four scientists who think like Philip Emeagwali, that
Nigeria would be on course to becoming a technological super
power. This probably summarizes our point here. In a country of
over 150 million people with millions of scientists yet not up to
four of them, possibly no one of them could think like Philip
Emeagwali! Not that the millions of scientists in Nigeria cannot or

Filosofia Theoretica: Journal of African Philosophy, Culture and Religion

do not think, they can and they do but only within Western thought
system. And as this is not naturally genial to them, they simply
cannot produce within it. With this I hope I have made my point
that there is a need for a unique African science fit with African
thought system where the African scientist looks at nature from his
own native ways (117-119).
Dr. Jonathan O. Chimakonam not only explores in detail and
successfully, the theories of Igbo African science but goes on to
give critics who question Africas intellectual ability, a big lie. He
shapes the way we shall begin to see and do not only African
science but every intellectual project by getting a handle on IgboAfrican logical thought and science. No wonder he has been hailed
as the father of African science and as one of the continents
brightest minds. This book would remain a great reference on
African science/studies for all time to come as it is a reference for
all of us today!

An abridged version of this review was published in South East Star. March
20th 2013 vol. 01. No. 09. P. 14

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