The 2nd International African Congress

February 19th to 21st, 2025

Emanuel Kalejaiye

“The 2nd International African Congress in Toruń, Poland, held from February 19th to 21st, 2025, brought together scholars, diplomats, and cultural enthusiasts to discuss African contributions to global history and philosophy. As the Chairman of the Nigerian in Diaspora Organisation Poland, I had the privilege of presenting a paper titled Socrates and Orunmila, Two Patron Saints of Classical Philosophy, based on the publication by Professor Sophie Bosede Oluwole. The event served as a platform for intellectual exchange, fostering a deeper understanding of Africa’s philosophical heritage in a global context.”

“My presentation focused on the comparative analysis of Socrates, the Greek philosopher, and Orunmila, the revered Yoruba sage, as explored in Professor Oluwole’s work. I highlighted how Orunmila, through the Ifá corpus, embodied a structured system of knowledge and ethical reasoning, much like Socrates did in Western philosophy. The discussion emphasized the importance of recognizing African intellectual traditions as equally rigorous and foundational to philosophical thought, challenging the Eurocentric narrative that often dominates classical philosophy.
It is good to note that Orunmila’s philosophy embedded in Yoruba culture was 30 years earlier than that of Socrates in medieval Greece.

This year’s Congress built upon the success of the inaugural event in 2024, where I had the honor of presenting another paper, Ali-August Agboola Browne, Hero of the Warsaw Uprising. This presentation shed light on the life of Ali-August Agboola Browne, a Nigerian-Polish resistance fighter who played a crucial role in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. By bringing his story to the forefront, I underscored the contributions of Africans in shaping European history, particularly in times of struggle and resistance.

The Congress continues to serve as a vital forum for strengthening African-European academic and cultural ties. Through presentations like mine and many others, we are reshaping historical narratives and advocating for the rightful place of African knowledge systems in global discourse. The event reaffirmed the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and provided a foundation for future dialogues on African history, philosophy, and identity.”

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Celebration gallery