The Paradox in Frantz Fanon's Liberation Contestation in the Context of Humanism Valentine Ehichioya Obinyan, (Ph.D) Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. obinyan.valentine@uniben.edu +2348034802766 & Albert Onobhayedo, (Ph.D) Department of History & International Studies, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria osemeamhen.onobhayrdo@uniben.edu Abstract Various dimensions have emerged in man’s understanding of humanism, and ample space has been accorded thoughts about violence and pacifism. African philosophers like Frantz Fanon and Nelson Mandela have taken a position in this debate. The question that has remained unanswered is whether the endorsement of violence as a tool of liberation is not dialectically opposed to the trappings of humanism. The struggle for political evolution in various nations in African presently is one of the numerous motivations of this study. Across history and even in contemporary times, various violent activities have been justified by allusions to liberation and restoration of humanism. Frantz Fanon’s contestation and advocacy of violence, in his quest for decolonization in Algeria, represent a liberation philosophy that raises questions about the pursuit of humanism with seemingly non- humane means. Could such actions be contextualized in humanism? Is it not a camouflage? What is humanism? Is there in-humanism in humanism? This paper engages critical analysis examine what appears to be contradictions in Fanon’s humanism. The paper traces how Fanon’s theory of violence has affected humanity and to what extent this contributes to sharpening the struggle for national integrity and egalitarianism in Africa. Keywords: Humanism, In-humanism, Africa, Philosophy, Colonialism and Violence . 1. INTRODUCTION Humanism is a term freely applied to a variety of beliefs, method and philosophies that place central emphasis on the human realm. According to Merriam – Webster Dictionary, Humanism is “a doctrine, attitude or ways of life centered on human interests or values, a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stress an individual’s dignity and worth and capacity for self – realization through reason 1 . Oxford Advance learner’s dictionary define humanism as, “a rationalist outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters” 2 . However, the term is used with reference to a system of education and mode of inquiry that developed in Northern Italy during the 13 th and 14 th century and later spread through continental Europe and England alternatively known as Renaissance humanism. Humanism sought to emphasize on the value and dignity of people. This work investigates the humanism of some philosophers such as Frantz Fanon and extract in-humanism from his theory of humanism. Nevertheless, this work will crystallize the work of Frantz Fanon during his quest for decolonization in Algeria where he explores the role of violence as the perfect revolutionary weapon in which the colonize man liberate himself from the shackle of colonialism. In Fanon’s work “The wretched of the earth”, he argues that the colonized world is “a world divided into compartments, divided into two to cater for two different species” 3 . It can be argued that this special divide which seeks to establish boundaries is that in which the “colonized was localized and positioned and essentially made to perform the role of a foreigner, in his or her own country. 4 Fanon is of the view that a compartmentalized colonial city perpetuates itself