African Societies Through a Lens of "Otherness"

Abstract

Another challenge is the tendency to view African societies through a lens of "otherness," which positions them as fundamentally different from Western societies. This approach can reinforce stereotypes and obscure the commonalities between African and Western cultures. To address this challenge, scholars have called for a more comparative approach to African anthropology that highlights the similarities and differences between African and Western cultures. For example, John Mbiti argues that African traditional religions share many similarities with Western religions, such as the belief in a supreme being and the use ofritual and symbolism .