JOURNALS

ABSTRACT

The African environment, both social and natural, is degraded and polluted. The African environment is plagued by problems such as human-wild life conflicts, atmospheric pollution, deforestation, desertification, terrorism, wars and violence, etc. Various theories have been proposed in social and environmental thoughts such as biocentricism, ecocentricism, ecofeminism, and so forth in dealing with the environmental crisis. In spite of these theories the environmental crisis has continued and is raging on. This paper proposes a new concept that is deeply rooted in African beliefs and practices as a panacea to the environmental crisis in Africa. This concept is termed Afroecosolidarity. This term is actually the combination of three terms, Africa (Afro), ecological (eco), and solidarity. The paper argues that the African belief in interconnectedness, inter-relatedness of all lives and entities in the cosmos necessitated responding in relating with human beings and the natural world in a healthy and sustainable manner. This feeling and praxis of unity and concern is termed solidarity and because it not just for human beings but for all life, it is called ecosolidarity. Rooted in African thought system it becomes Afroecosolidarity. The paper will use critical hermeneutics and analysis to examine this phenomenon. What impedes its fruitful practices is also examined with how it can be fostered. The paper finds that there are indigenous foundations that ground the notion of ecological solidarity (ecosolidarity). The paper concludes that a practice of ecosolidarity informed by African value will help to curb the environmental challenges in Africa.