Philosophy is a challenge, but African philosophy in America poses a greater challenge. Never knowing where to begin when I walk into a classroom, I allow myself to be guided by questions. If beliefs are solutions, there are more problems in philosophy than there are solutions, more questions than answers. The core questions are as African as they are universal. Unlike religion that constructs beliefs on faith, philosophy systematically raises its questions about life, death, the self, knowledge, the soul, the good, the beautiful, society, etc.
Philosophical inquiry suggests serious, rigorous, reflective thinking.
Argumentation, as in Socrates' practices or in a good debate, has stated themes, issues to be rationally questioned, examined, scrutinized, analyzed and synthesized to understand better - along with the objections to one's preferred conclusions. Whether in Africa or elsewhere, philosophers not only live to find truth - they die for it. Philosophy seeks truth and knowledge according to the light of reason alone. Because of this, philosophers suffer persecution and death, even today. He, too, publicly characterized Nigeria's Sani Abacha military dictatorship as an unjust form of government, based neither on reason nor on truth but rather on a monopoly and application of force and violence.