Our Philosophy

Fahamu exists to denounce all forms of social injustices that have oppressed and continue to oppress African people. In partnership with like-minded social movements and organisations, Fahamu will politically inform and raise the conscience of African people through debate, learning and action in order to contribute to the full liberation of Africans from all types of negative forces that oppress them. By focusing on Pan-Africanism, Feminism and People-centredness as its core values, Fahamu believes that solutions to Africa’s problems will be found by espousing pan-African ideals of seeking for unity and solidarity among African people in order to achieve social cohesion, economic and political independence. In addition, solutions to Africa’s problems will come from the involvement of all African people including both women and men, young and old.

 

Furthermore, through four programmatic work we will:

 

  1. Establish platforms for analysis and debate – Pambazuka (awaken in Kiswahili).
  2. Create learning opportunities for, by and across movements – Adilisha (teach or promote justice in Kiswahili);
  3. Amplify Africa-centred voices, perspectives and solutions on policy and in decision making at all levels – Utetezi (advocacy in Kiswahili); and
  4. Generate and share knowledge to serve activism, bridging the gap between theory and practice –Tuliwaza   (we think or reflect in Kiswahili);

 

As such, when we will work to create platforms for Africa-centred advocacy through Utetezi, we will continue to generate analysis through Pambazuka that spurs in-depth thinking and knowledge generation through Tuliwaza and in turn contributing to learning by and from movements for social justice through Adilisha. It is this cycle and synergy that makes Fahamu uniquely placed to continue to grow networks for social justice and position ourselves to support change in Africa. In addition, we see our work over the five years contributing to increased democratisation of political, social and economic spaces in Africa creating meaningful change based on the respect for the dignity and humanity of human beings and on a people-centred progressive agenda at all levels.