ABSTRACT
This chapter surveys contributions to the philosophy of nonviolence and nonviolent strategies for social change in Africa. The focus includes conflict resolution, cessation of personal violence and war, notions of positive peace, and prevention of escalation of conflict. The African continent is large and its history is long, so this chapter cannot claim to be comprehensive, but it can serve as an introductory overview. This chapter uses the continental definition of Africa. It begins with ancient Egypt and North Africa, where the oldest written texts can be found, and includes sub-Saharan Africa (see Mazrui 1986 for the definition of Africa). Africa as a continent has influenced and has been influenced by regional and international developments. This chapter covers Africa in this larger and interactive context.
