African Perspectives seeks to unleash wisdom. Through the midwifery of ideas and visions, we seek to engage in a critique of and resistance to the callous indifference of the mind, soul and therefore society to the very value of dialogue. Not the narrow ranting of the plutocracy in a market driven economy, but a Socratic commitment to questioning - of ourselves, of authority, of dogma, of parochialism and fundamentalism.

Whilst the concept of democracy is prominent and overriding in social life, it is a hotly contested topic making it difficult to present a concept of democracy that is widely accepted, since it is strongly influenced by perceptions and culture. Indeed, collective views of democracy have been arrived at by indoctrination, education, imposition and the absence of free thought and dialogue. It is this very situation which we at African Perspectives seek to inspire through distributing thought on the broader issues of the democratic question. Historically and even today, the debate around democracy remains selective in the examples used.

Our ability to define the variables rather than dismissing them as anomalies must be discussed. Not only in the corridors of power, but in the streets of every African town, city and village.