Polychronous and Existential Mode of Time in Africa: A Critique of Mbiti's Concept of Time

In: Journal of black studies, Volume 53, Issue 7, p. 728-745

Abstract

The concept of time is coeval with man's existence and coterminous with his endeavors. This is predicated on the fact that it sets and dictates the pace for man. People appreciate reality differently and this includes their concept of time. This premise informed Mbiti's idea of time in Africa. Mbiti in his submission posited that Africans have no idea of the "future" in time. A critical response to this position of Mbiti toward a restatement of the proper model of time in Africa is what this paper is concerned with. The paper employed the critical-analytic model to examine Mbiti's position and it was obvious that Mbiti's position was parochial and untenable. This paper then argued that time in African is rather polychromous, holistic, and existential. Africans "live in time" and if the future is part of the African life and world, then there is a future as far as time in Africa is concerned.