The famous African philosopher passed on

One of Africa’s best-known thinkers passed away as he answered his heavenly father’s call this Friday, February 2, 2024, the president of the Association of Journalists and Communicators of the Methodist Protestant Church of Benin (Ajcpmb) said.

Professor Paulin Hountondji was born in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 1942, and was awarded the Prince Claus Foundation Prize of the Netherlands.

Paulin Hountondji left a rich legacy to the world of thought.

He taught philosophy at the University of Abomey-Calavi since 1970. He is one of the most important university figures both nationally and internationally.

Paulin Hountondji is not only a philosopher, he is also a politician: after the Conference of the Nation’s Vital Forces, President Nicéphore Soglo called upon him to join his government, entrusting him with the Ministries of Education (1990-1991) and Culture and Communications (1991-1993).

He published several works, including “La philosophie africaine” and “Economie et société au Bénin”.

An alumnus of the École Normale Supérieure de Paris, he holds an agrégation in philosophy and a doctorate in literature. Outside Uac, he has taught at the universities of Besançon, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi..

He is a founding member of the Conseil Inter-Africain de Philosophie (CIAP), whose scientific journal has had only one issue.