In the second installment of her analysis of ubuntu, the African meta-philosophy, Review Africa correspondent Sigrun Marie Moss ponders the ancient outlook’s possible downsides. Specifically, does this communal belief hinder individual African entrepreneurship — and in so doing, curse Africa’s prospects for prosperity?

With more than 20 general elections scheduled in Africa for 2009-10, The Toronto Review’s Senior Editor for Africa asks if the continent is moving towards or away from democracy.

In this three-part series, Toronto Review correspondent Sigrun Marie Moss will examine Ubuntu, the meta-philosophy of Sub-Saharan Africa.