ABSTRACT

The 21st century in Africa has been marked by events which have made the human mind to question the possibility of effecting any real change in our societies through the use of non violent means. The prevalence in the use of violence and acts of terror around the world has called for a re-examination of our values, beliefs and rationality as human beings and as higher animals especially the philosophy of Non violence. The philosophy of Non violence has gained worldwide acceptance owing to the work of M.K. Gandhi, M.L. King Jnr, and others who employed non violence against the colonial rule of the British in India and also against the segregation practiced against African American people respectively. Many argue that non violence has outlived its usefulness because mankind is faced with new challenges which non violent approaches cannot provide solutions to. The question remains pertinent: has nonviolence outlived its usefulness? Can this philosophy still achieve positive results in the 21st century as it did in the past? This paper adopting the method of analysis holds that non violence is as potent now as it was in the past and can even be more effective to achieve positive social change in Africa but its success depends on the considering the modern challenges in Africa states and application of its principles as defined by M. K. Gandhi.