Muntu: The New African Culture

Softcover book first published in Germany in 1958, here in English in 1961. The author portrays the whole range of traditional and new African thought expressed in religion, language, philosophy, literature, art, music, and dance. He tells what happens in the encounter between Christian and African cultures, using these examples to introduce the underlying principles of African philosophy. Muntu, which means 'humanity' describes the direction in which African culture is taking in developing new and independent cultures resulting from outside forces and exposure while retaining an innate vibrancy and tie to tradition.