Jay A. Ciaffa

TL;DR: The relationship between tradition and modernity has been a central theme of postcolonial African philosophy as discussed by the authors, and several basic questions have become the focus of ongoing debate and discussion: What is the relevance of indigenous African traditions to the challenges of contemporary life? Do traditional modes of thought and behavior constitute resources or impediments to the projects of development and modernization in Africa? What, precisely, is meant by the terms "development" and "modernization" when they are used in reference to African countries? Discussion of such questions reveals a conflict between two broad perspectives.