ABSTRACT
Social work education in Africa has been criticised as being Eurocentric, with little done to centre the socio-cultural context and peculiarity of Africa. The ontology, epistemology, theories and practice models of social work in many African institutions appear to be deeply rooted in Eurocentric hegemony and individualism considered superior to African communalism and being. This has resulted in the relatively notable absence of indigenous knowledge in African social work scholarship and students going into professional practice with knowledge far removed from the everyday realities of the African people. This chapter aims to identify opportunities for effective social work education in Africa that highlights indigenous knowledge and draws on narratives from social workers from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zambia, with fieldwork experiences in both Africa and Europe. Findings show the importance of and opportunities in experiential learning, through field practicum, exchange programmes, and balancing a heavily theorised western education model with everyday African experiences that are capable of dealing with the unique challenges Africans face. To encourage indigenisation of social work practice in Africa, we recommend that researchers and practitioners collaborate in developing a modern framework based on home-grown philosophies across the African continent that can promote efficient service provision.
Eby’enjigiriza by’embeera z’abantu mu Africa binenyezebwa nti byekubiira nnyo ku ludda lwe’kizungu; kitono nnyo ekikoleddwa okwesigamya enjigirirza yaabyo ku buwangwa n’enjawulo eriwo wakati wa bazungu n’abaddugavu. Ebyenkula, entegeera, era n’ebyokwefumitiriza mu byembeera z’abantu mu matendekero mangi mu Africa kirabika ga-simba nnyo essira ku busukulumu era n’obwansiwa mukange ebirowoozebwa nti birina enkizo ku nkola y’abaddugavu eyanakalyaako ani. Kino kiretedde amagezi g’abaddugavu okuba nga gakozesebwa kitono mu misomo gy’embeera z’abantu era nga abayizi baagyo bakola emirimu gyaabwe nga bakozesa amagezi agatakwatagana na mbeera z’abaddugavu. Musuula eno ekigengedererwa kwekuzuula ebisoboka okukolebwa okulaba nga bakola ku mbeera za bantu mu baddugavu basosowoza amagezi g’obuwangwa agabaddugavu nga enkola mu Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia ne Zambia yekenenyezebwa era ngenkola mu Africa ne Europe nayo etaganjulwa. Ebyokunonyereza biraga omugaso oguli mu kugenda mu nsiike, okuwanyisiganyanga ebinonyerezebwaako nga kigendererwa okukendeeza ku kwefumitiriza okwesigamye ku bazungu era nokulaba nti embeera ezabulijjo ez’abaddugavu zisibwaako essira era ng’okunonyereza okukolebwa kiriganyura abaddugavu mu kusoomozebwa kwonna kwebasannga. Okunyikiza amagezi ganansangwa agabaddugavu mukola ku bantu mu Africa twagala abanonyereza era n’abo abakola ku mbeera z’abantu bakolaganire wamu mukukiriza entendeka ey’omulembe nga yesigama ku birowoozo bya bantu ba Africa weefa yenkana ng’ekigendererwa kwekutumbula n’okukulakulanya embeera za bantu.
