Rediscovering Our Roots
Character Education in Pre-Colonial Africa and Its Contemporary Relevance in the Greater Horn of Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22133704 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Amanuel Abraha Teklemariam (0009-0008-2276-6396, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 61 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-12 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Histories (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2409-9252 • E-ISSN: 2409-9252 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/histories5040061 |
| OpenAlex | W7114907406 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 23 |
This study critically examines the structure, mechanisms, and enduring relevance of character education embedded in the indigenous knowledge systems of the Greater Horn of Africa. Pre-colonial African societies upheld sophisticated educational frameworks that emphasized holistic moral formation and communal character development, values that continue to influence rural communities today. Drawing on an integrative literature review, the paper identifies preparationism, functionalism, and communalism as core philosophical foundations shaping these systems. Moral and civic values were cultivated through informal, lifelong learning, guided by the collaborative roles of the home and community in fostering respect, responsibility, and social cohesion. Central pedagogical instruments included initiation rites, which provided structured moral instruction, and oral literature, which transmitted ethical reasoning and cultural wisdom. The findings underscore the continued relevance of indigenous character education in addressing contemporary societal challenges and advocate for Decolonizing the Mind as a pathway to revitalizing these traditions. The study concludes that reformed rites of passage, when purged of harmful elements, preserve cultural identity and strengthen communal ethics, offering a sustainable model for moral and civic education in modern Horn of African contexts
Character education · Communalism · French horn · Indigenous · Moral character · Moral development · Traditional knowledge · African cultural and philosophical studies · African Education and Politics · Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
The Palgrave Handbook of African Education and Indigenous Knowledge
Decolonization, Development and Knowledge in Africa
Writing Integrative Literature Reviews
The integrative review
Literature review as a research methodology
Polygyny and Christian Marriage in Africa
Parental burnout among Somali mothers
African Traditional Education
Perceptions of Pregnant Women on Traditional Health Practices in a Rural Setting in South Africa
Mapping the field of Indigenous knowledges in anti‐colonial discourse
Exploring Maternal Health in Ethiopia Using Indigenous Approaches
Oral storytelling and national kinship
The Principles and Content of African Traditional Education
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |