Odera Oruka in the Twenty-first Century

The late Kenyan Prof. H. Odera Oruka (1944-1995), from his base in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi, contributed significantly to the growth of contemporary African philosophy, and helped locate African philosophy within the global philosophical discourse. His work in areas such as normative and applied ethics, political philosophy, epistemology, and, most notably, philosophic sagacity, continues to play a pivotal role in the current discourse on African philosophy. Prof. Oruka was also one of the founders of Thought and Practice: A Journal of the Philosophical Association of Kenya. The chapters in this volume examine various aspects of Oruka’s prolific contribution to philosophy in general, and to African philosophy in particular. Earlier versions of the chapters were presented at the three-day Odera Oruka International Symposium held from 19th to 21st November 2013, organised by the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi in collaboration with the Goethe Institute

Identity Boundaries Construction and its Effects on Vulnerability in the case of a Historically Marginalized People (HMP) in Rwanda: An examination of their Access to Human Rights.

This paper contextualises the vulnerability of a Historically Marginalized people (HMP) referred to as the Batwa to explain how their moral inferiority resulting from the constructed microaggressions and attitudinal prejudices, jeopardize their full enjoyment and appreciation of human rights. The dilemmas experienced by the Batwa in Rwanda have until recently received little theoretical and empirical attention thereby disregarding ontological and epistemological distinction. This paper contributes to this lacuna by reviewing colonial discourse of histories and hegemonies and investigating ethnic socio-cultural practices and other mythical tales. The foregoing indicates a genuine need for the application of human rights approach to recognize and to empower the HMP. This paper responds to the question of whether identity boundaries sharpen or obscure vulnerabilities of HMP thereby presents a case study providing policy makers and other actors with information to develop structures and systems protecting their rights

Identity Boundaries Construction and its Effects on Vulnerability in the case of a Historically Marginalized People (HMP) in Rwanda: An examination of their Access to Human Rights.

This paper contextualises the vulnerability of a Historically Marginalized people (HMP) referred to as the Batwa to explain how their moral inferiority resulting from the constructed microaggressions and attitudinal prejudices, jeopardize their full enjoyment and appreciation of human rights. The dilemmas experienced by the Batwa in Rwanda have until recently received little theoretical and empirical attention thereby disregarding ontological and epistemological distinction. This paper contributes to this lacuna by reviewing colonial discourse of histories and hegemonies and investigating ethnic socio-cultural practices and other mythical tales. The foregoing indicates a genuine need for the application of human rights approach to recognize and to empower the HMP. This paper responds to the question of whether identity boundaries sharpen or obscure vulnerabilities of HMP thereby presents a case study providing policy makers and other actors with information to develop structures and systems protecting their rights