FROM “WRETCHEDNESS” TO “SELF-RELIANCISM:” RETHINKING FANON AND OGUNDOWOLE ON AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT

Abayomi Temitayo Onifade

Department of philosophy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria

Abstract

This work attempts a comparative analysis of two significant indigenous philosophical contributions in the area of Africa’s development discourse: Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth and E.K. Ogundowole’s Self-Reliancism. Although both writers are from different historical contexts, yet, they are united in their quest and their objective of charting a transformative path toward Africa’s socio-political and economic advancement. Fanon, in The Wretched of the Earth, presents a radical critique of colonialism and its psychological impact, advocating for decolonial violence, cultural renaissance, and the liberation of African consciousness as necessary conditions for meaningful development. Ogundowole, on the other hand, articulates a philosophy of Self-Reliancism, which emphasizes Africa’s autonomy, the reclamation of indigenous knowledge systems, and a progressive-oriented commitment to internal self-sufficiency as necessary for building sustainable growth for Africa’s development. The study employs a critical analysis methodology and a review of relevant literature to assess the philosophical foundations, practical implications, and points of convergence between these two frameworks. It argues that an integrative approach that synthesizes Fanon’s decolonial praxis with Ogundowole’s constructive self-reliance offers a compelling indigenous paradigm for African development. Such a synthesis demands not only the epistemic decolonization of thought and institutions but also a praxis-driven reorientation toward cultural authenticity, structural transformation, and cognitive liberation. Through this philosophical focal lens, this paper advocates a comprehensible, Africa-centered model of development that challenges dependency and reclaims African agency.

Keywords: African Development, Decolonization, Fanon, Ogundowole, Indigenous Knowledge, Neocolonialism; Self-Reliancism.