Afropolitanism and Citizenship: A Redefinition of National Identity

Emmanuel Adetokunbo Ogundele

Afropolitanism is a philosophical movement propounded and popularised by Taiye Selasi and Achille Mbembe as a response to the identity challenges of Africans in the diaspora. It proposes a new approach to understanding multiple identities and cultures in the globalised world. Afropolitanism challenges the traditional view of citizenship and national identity as linked to borders and a single nation-state. It advocates for a redefinition of citizenship and national identity that accommodates cultural hybridity, transnational connections, and multiple national identities. It transcends the limitations imposed by geographical locations and fosters a sense of belonging that is not restricted to a single nation. Despite its advocacy for multiplicity of cultural affiliation, it retains and recognises the fact that diasporic Africans still maintain ties to their heritage while actively participating in the global economy. This study, therefore, critically examines how Afropolitanism redefines and reinterprets the traditional view of citizenship and national identity, and how it fosters a sense of belonging among Africans in the diaspora that is not linked to legal citizenship. Essentially, Afropolitanism presents a progressive and robust framework for redefining citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Problem with Quantification: An Existential Perspective on the Limits of Numerical Representation

Mark D. Ekperi

Quantification has driven the advancement of civilisation and facilitated significant progress in science, engineering, and the humanities. Despite its widespread success, quantification now presents a philosophical challenge: can the use of numbers or measurements to describe phenomena adequately address the complexity of human existence? Existential critique maintains that quantification, while effective for observable phenomena, does not capture qualities such as authenticity, consciousness, freedom, and intrinsic value. These dimensions are rooted in individual and subjective experience. Efforts to quantify these aspects result in a category error, reducing unique human experiences to objects, distorting meaning, and fostering alienation. Furthermore, quantification reduces ethical responsibility to numerical terms, thereby diminishing the moral and personal dimensions of experience. This paper draws on existentialist thinkers (Sartre, Heidegger, Camus) and phenomenologists (Husserl, Merleau-Ponty) to propose an ethics of quantification that explicitly recognises the limits of measurement and prioritises existential understanding. The strengths and limitations of quantification, including its contributions to social progress and science, are critically examined. Ultimately, recognising the boundaries of quantification is argued to be essential for preserving meaningful human understanding.