Sophie Oluwole – Nigerian philosopher who challenged the Western canon
Christophe Premat, professor at Stockholm University, writes in The Conversation about Sophie Oluwole – the Nigerian philosopher who devoted her life to making African knowledge traditions visible.
The article discusses the Nigerian philosopher Sophie Oluwole, who challenged the Western idea that philosophy is primarily a European heritage. She showed that Yoruba philosophy and the Ifá tradition also contain sophisticated philosophical thought, and she compared, for example, the thinker Orunmila with Socrates to demonstrate that philosophical ideas exist in both African and European traditions.
Link to the article:
Sophie Oluwole, the trailblazing Nigerian woman who redefined philosophy
Last updated: 2026-03-06
Source: Department of Romance Studies and Classics