Philosophy, Education, and Culture in Africa

Living in another culture isn't just about living away from one's homeland; it's about immersing oneself in another symbolic world. By living away from my homeland, I've come to realize that culture isn't shaped by a rational discourse that lasts a day or a year, and that entering into dialogue with others requires time and patience. We cannot understand others unless we patiently piece together the puzzle of their millennia-old history. I believe that neither assimilation nor integration can lead to the creation of a new way of living together unless cultures make a conscious effort toward intracultural dialogue, self-awareness, and self-criticism before embarking on intercultural dialogue. Without each person's self-reflection-to meet the other on common human ground-all models of intercultural coexistence are bound to fail.