African communalism refers to the traditional way rural areas of Africa have been functioning in the past.
In Africa, society existed for decades without formal hierarchies, with equal access to land and river for all, in a way that resembles forms of egalitarianism and socialism.
[citation needed] African communalism is a moral doctrine that also values human dignity, rights, and responsibilities, according to philosopher Polycarp Ikuenobe.
[2] In addition, Táíwò asserts that current conceptions of African communalism do not accurately reflect current political climates in Africa, and more modern philosophies are needed to guide that continent in the twenty-first century.
[1] The term communalism was coined by libertarian philosopher Murray Bookchin.