Spirituo-artificialism by Preye Samson Paul

I, Preye S. Paul, coined and proposed the concept of “Spirituo-artificialism” to describe forms of human-made artifacts and practices that combine material construction with spiritual meanings and functions. In many African traditional contexts, objects such as charms, amulets, ritual instruments, and sacred symbols are not perceived merely as physical entities but as material forms believed to connect human beings with spiritual realities. Thus, practices often described as juju, fetishism, or other forms of spiritual technology can be examined as examples of spirituo-artificial creations, where artificial objects become carriers of symbolic, cultural, and metaphysical significance. Unlike contemporary concerns about epistemic injustice in AI ethics and governance, it can be argued that African societies historically did not intentionally globalize or institutionalize these indigenous knowledge systems beyond their local cultural contexts. Therefore, while questions of inclusion and representation in global AI governance remain important, we should not place excessive blame on the Western world for our limited participation; rather, Africa must also critically examine its historical engagement with knowledge production, technological innovation, and the global dissemination of its own intellectual contributions…

(Excerpt from Paul Samson Preye, “Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in the African Experience,” delivered at the Philosophy Department, University of Ghana, Legon, July 2026)