Okolo's African Being-with and Heidegger's Idea of Mitsein: A Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Abstract

There is a dare need to understand peoples and cultures and resolve unending conflicts for better human relationship among people. To do this, this study seeks to find out whether the ontological being underlying Okolo"s African being-with is the same as that underlying Heidegger"s being-with (mitsein). The question raised is whether Africans share a common humanity with other human beings in the world, and if Heidegger"s presumption about the humanity of the African is true? What can the answers to these questions do in leadership and governance especially as the Nigerian election is in its full gear? The major aim of the study is to examine Okolo"s notion of African "being-with" in relation to Heidegger"s "being-with and highlight the rich ethical and political implications of their concepts through a cross-cultural dialogue and use it to advance a new ethical world order that promotes better living among peoples. The study finds that Africans and Europeans share a common humanity and that the understanding of Okolo and Heidegger"s notions of being-with can help not only improve mutual relationship but also leadership growth.