1944 – 1995
Henry Odera Oruka (1944–1995) was a Kenyan philosopher and professor at the University of Nairobi, widely regarded as one of the founders of professional African philosophy. He is best known for developing the concept of 'Sage Philosophy,' a methodology for documenting the rigorous, critical thought of traditional African sages as a legitimate form of philosophical inquiry. His work challenged both ethnophilosophy's conflation of culture with philosophy and Western dismissals of African intellectual traditions.
Founded the Sage Philosophy project, interviewing and documenting the philosophical reasoning of traditional Kenyan sages
Identified four trends in African philosophy: ethnophilosophy, philosophic sagacity, nationalist-ideological philosophy, and professional philosophy
Argued that individual critical reflection, not communal consensus, constitutes authentic African philosophy
Contributed to global justice theory, linking African philosophy to human rights discourse
Professionalized African philosophy as a rigorous academic discipline at the University of Nairobi