Revenge at the Service of Social Justice: An Afrocentric View

Boniface Anusiem

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Revenge at the Service of Social Justice: An Afrocentric View

In: Exploring the Facets of Revenge

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Boniface Anusiem

Boniface Anusiem
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 95–102

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9781848880894_011

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African cosmology is basically communal. In traditional African societies, individuals are born with their lives, plans and aspirations built within the framework of the community. The community as a superstructure with a suprasensible prowess has a central role to play in the lives of individuals and groups within the community. In the traditional African society nothing essentially happens without necessary connection with the community. This stretches to even small details as a child’s insubordination. Revenge is generally seen as a negative response to injury or harm, whether intended or accidental. It may come with one or more of the following reasons: the desire to get even, retaliation for injury, loss, or humiliation, an attempt to transform shame into pride, seeking symmetrical injury, harm, or loss. In traditional African societies where the community transcends the individual, revenge becomes a viable socio-cultural arsenal when the life of the society is at stake. This seemingly primitive approach to adverse reciprocity of actions forms a strong basis for social justice in most communities Sub-Sahara Africa. In this section, the author employs the rich ingredients of African studies to evaluate in broad lines the benefits of revenge in certain African societies when its occurrence adds value to the life of the immediate community. This expository study addresses revenge as a phenomenon with strong sociocultural and religious relevance. Revenge is seen as having some contributive values to social justice when it is appropriately applied to appease the vertical and horizontal lines of relationship evident in the community. This afro-centric assessment of revenge is instructive while initiating scholarly discussions.

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Exploring the Facets of Revenge

E-Book ISBN:: 9781848880894

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 08 Apr 2012

Subjects
- Literature and Cultural Studies
  - Comparative Studies & World Literature
- Social Sciences
  - Cultural Studies

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Revenge at the Service of Social Justice: An Afrocentric View

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Exploring the Facets of Revenge

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