With "consciencism", Kwame Nkrumah, one of Africa's most renowned leaders, articulated the intellectual framework for his political action, which became an ideological underpinning of the African revolutions of the 20th century. He acknowledges the impact of Islamic traditions on the African conscience, and takes the time to review Western philosophy in some detail, but argues that a new African philosophy must draw its nourishment chiefly from its more egalitarian African roots. In the process, he argues for the continued relevance of political philosophy to social and political action.