ANCESTRAL CONTINUITY AND THE CRISIS OF MODERN SEXUAL ETHICS

A BUJO-INSPIRED CRITIQUE

Abstract

This paper examines Bénézet Bujo’s concept of anamnestic solidarity as a transformative framework for sexual ethics, grounded in African communitarian principles. It posits that ancestral continuity —the preservation of moral and spiritual connections across past, present, and future generations —serves as a critical ethical criterion for assessing sexual practices. This study employs a philosophical analysis of Bujo’s anamnestic solidarity, complemented by a hermeneutical interpretation of African communitarian ethics and critical engagement with contemporary sexual ethics discourse. In contrast to Western liberal sexual ethics, which prioritizes individual autonomy and present-moment consent, Bujo’s approach, rooted in relational personhood, views sexuality as a communal act with profound spiritual and cosmic implications. Sexual practices, particularly procreation and marriage, are seen as sacred responsibilities that sustain the intergenerational chain, ensuring communal flourishing and cosmic harmony. The palaver model, a dialogical process of inclusive communal deliberation, integrates ancestral wisdom with contemporary challenges, enabling dynamic norm development while maintaining temporal continuity. The paper criticizes modern sexual paradigms, including non-procreative orientations, for their potential to disrupt ancestral vitality and examines the neo-colonial imposition of Western sexual norms on African moral traditions. By advocating for philosophical decolonization and pluralism, it affirms the legitimacy of African communitarian ethics in global discourse. Addressing objections, it defends the framework’s coherence, adaptability to issues like gender equality, and respect for individual dignity within a communal context. Bujo’s approach expands the temporal scope of sexual ethics, fostering a pluralistic dialogue that balances communal obligations with personal agency, offering significant contributions to global ethical conversations.