Philosophy of Beauty in Selected African Languages and Proverbs

In this chapter, African beauty is conceived as works of arts, as natural qualities, but also as moral uprightness. Gyekye seems to summarize African conception of beauty as consisting in works of art, natural qualities expressed as figures, moral behaviour, and humanity itself. This chapter surveys African concept of beauty in their selected languages, wisdom sayings, and proverbs. African societies have differing concepts of this philosophy. But in line with Okot p’Bitek, the Acholi have three basic concepts of beauty: social, moral, and physical beauties. While social beauty refers to the harmonious living and peace in society, moral beauty has to do with human behaviour, and physical beauty is the symmetrical harmony between the different parts of a given reality. The basic principles of moral beauty as discussed in this chapter are that moral beauty is superior to physical beauty; character is the basis for moral beauty other than behaviour; self-preservation is prior to generosity; and inner beauty is not an outcome of inheritance. Principles of physical beauty are beauty can be physical (outer) or moral (inner), and physical beauty combined with moral beauty is the hallmark of true beauty.