Alexis Kagame- bantu Ontology

Question 1

What does kagame believe about Bantu languages?

Answer 1

That the structure of the language reveals a Bantu philosophy and in particular a Bantu ontology

Question 2

What is the difference between Bantu and kinyarwanda?

Answer 2

Kinyarwanda is a type of Bantu language with 11 noun classes and the importance of noun classes that they control syntax

Question 3

What is the connection between Bantu ontology and language?

Answer 3

The fact that the most relevant Nominal root -ntu generally means a being, or “some-thing” and it is used with different prefixes to express 4 different categories of being

Question 4

What are the categories and perfumes of being?

Answer 4

1. U-MU-NTU - category of “human being”
2. I-KI-NTU category of “thing”
3. A-HA-NTU category of “place” & “time”
4. U-KU-NTU category of “mode”

Question 5

What is the difference with other Bantu languages

Answer 5

Essentially there’s a slight variation in that root word “-ntu” but they all have the prefixes with the modes of being

Question 6

How many kinda of being exist in Bantu cosmology?

Answer 6

In the kintu category: 3 kinda
1. Insensitive or inanimate 
2. The asskmilative or vegetative 
3. Sensitive 
But Bantu cosmology deals the metaphysics is the first two groups of beings

Question 7

What are the criticism of this form?

Answer 7

Essentially the fact that language structure is consciously designed so it is the effect of the way people think and it is an imposition of the Aristotelian ontological concepts on kinyarwanda/Bantu ontology
It is a group philosophy and overgenralization

Question 8

What is rational psychology?

Answer 8

It deals with all sensitive beings (those that have sense who grow and die and have life) humans and animals

Question 9

How do the Bantu see humans vs. Animals?

Answer 9

Animals = sensitive
Humans = intelligent & sensitive
But both have a vital principle which is Igicucy which means shadow and is identified as “soul” but disappears upon death

Question 10

How do the Bantu see death?

Answer 10

They see it as being conceived form the separation of the soul (igicucu) from the body and that it is true for both humans and animals?
But the difference for animals there is nothing left but for humans the muzimu which is unperceivable in death but becomes a reality after death, survives

Question 11

What does kagames linguistic ethnophilosophy depict?

Answer 11

It shows the fact that language is and can be used as a source of philosophy
And can also be used as proverbs but there is a need for caution when using linguistic structure as a source of African philosophy