Ethno-Philosophical Analysis of Human Existence in Esan Eschatology: Philosophical Perspective of Customs and Culture in African Literature

Abstract

African literature embodies a profound ethnographic or ethno-philosophical diverse conceptions and analysis of history and existence of man. Although it has in no little way, been considered synonymously with the teleological movement of time hence the questions ‘From where is man?’ ‘what is life?’ ‘why death?’ and ‘to where does man go’ are underlying imperatives of human existence and this to a large extent, constitutes eschatology. But what is eschatology and to what extent does it envelope a broad understanding of human existence? How much does this structures human attitude to life itself? Does this qualify for a people’s philosophy? In this study we shall examine human existence in Esan eschatology especially as it constitute a broad ideological frame work to an understanding to fundamental issues that constitute being and beings and as a peoples philosophy to certain global demands. The researcher adopts a critical, hermeneutic and phenomenological method in crystallizing the wealth or quintessence and relevance of the Esan eschatological analysis of human existence in African literature and philosophy and concludes with the affirmation that African ethnography and philosophy affirms that human existence cuts across three transcendental stages in a teleological movement through fundamental or existential realities which brings his will, choice and responsibility to play.