Citation: Mugumbate, R., Nwanna, C. R., Twikirize, J. and Tusasiirwe, S. (2024). Empirical evidence on the names and values of Africa’s philosophy of Ubuntu. Journal of Ubuntu/Nyingi waUbuntu, 1(1), 1-19.
Authors and affiliations
- Rugare Mugumbate, PhD, Lecturer Social Work, School of Health & Society, Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Australia. Senior Research Associate, Department of Social Work & Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Email: [email protected]
- Chinwe R. Nwanna, Professor, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
- Janestic Twikirize, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Makerere University, Uganda.
- Sharlotte Tusasiirwe, PhD, School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Australia; Secretary; Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa
All researchers are members of the Ubuntu Research Group (URG) organised by the Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet).
Abstract
In the last few years, the philosophy of Ubuntu has increased its valuing, use and influence in social work and development globally. Literature on the application and use of Ubuntu in education, research and practice is now available but more is required to overturn centuries of devaluing and misinformation. For example, there are no studies that have explored the names of African philosophy in different communities and the values considered most important in this philosophy. This is the gap that has motivated this current research. The research was a survey, with quantitative questions administered through the Qualtrics software between 11 April and 11 August 2023. The target for the survey were 840 academics and practitioners who were on the list servs of the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA) (n=60) and Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet) (n=780). These academics were asked to complete the survey and forward it to their students, therefore, the target of students was open. In total, 198 people participated in the survey, and 86 completed all questions (22 students, 33 academics and 31 practitioners). Ethics advice was sought from the Africa Independent Ethics Committee (AIEC). The results show that 38 names are used to refer to Africa’s philosophy by the people who participated in this survey. Twenty-two (22) of the names were derived from the root word tu, which refers to humans. Ubuntu is the most used noun (67%). The value most identified with Ubuntu was ujamaa (communityness) followed by udugu (unity). Justice and uhuru (freedom), gargaar (community solidarity, unity and cohesion), integrity and ukama (relations) were the third most mentioned values. These results confirm that the values of Ubuntu are widespread among the participants.
Key words: Africa, philosophy, Ubuntu, social work, social development, values, ujamaa
Article type: Original research
Review type: Double-blind peer review