Ìwà as Ontological Duality: A Prolegomena to an African Version of Event Metaphysics

Taking my inspiration from the Hermopolitan and Heliopolitan systems of ancient Egypt, the Yorùbá philosophic sage, Ọ̀rúnmìlà, and the English philosopher of science cum metaphysician, Alfred North Whitehead, I ferment a unique event ontology of duality, which I christen Ìwà. Ìwà translates as character in everyday usage among the Yorùbá. However, when reflecting on an ontological plane, it dovetails into the very important metaphysical concept—“to be” and it is this latter usage that I cling to, for navigating this theory of ontological duality. Unlike other contemporary and emerging African ontological theories, Ìwà openly avows itself as event metaphysics capable of providing a logical, coherent, and relevant interpretation of the African reality. Prominent metaphysical issues such as experience with its ubiquitous character, the nature of the relationship between God and the world, power, and theodicy along with the interconnected feature of reality with implications for modern science are provided rational and coherent attention via Ìwà ontology.