Social Work Seminal Text

 

 

Our contribution to the Africanisation-Decolonisation Indaba 2023, is in the form of sharing our book that was edited by three academics in the Dept of Social Development and co-authored by 18 scholars from Universities in Africa. Critical Social Work: Prospects and Challenges is a convergence of 18 critical Black African minds from various universities in Africa, who challenge the hegemonic status quo in society. In this collection of conceptual and empirical papers, each author tells a compelling story with common themes that are firmly rooted in advancing decolonial knowledge. This book covers pertinent issues in social work practice and education, ranging from rethinking parenting roles, utopian notions of family, mediation practice in relation to unmarried fathers to race and landlessness. The book contains practical suggestions in respect of decolonising the self as well as social work curricula in higher education. In addition, Critical Social Work: Prospects and Challenges delves into trusting relationships as cornerstones to effective supervision, centring African spirituality in social work, economic emancipation of Black women, cultural trauma as well as drug abuse prevention. Based on the range of themes, this book would benefit social work practitioners, students, academics, social activists and anyone who is curious to understand how decoloniality may be operationalised in social work.

 

The cover of the book communicates the deeply meaningful assertion that all the authors are children of African soil, who are firmly rooted in the culture, values and traditions of our forefathers, our ancestors and communities of origin. Through this seminal text we wish to reclaim, restore and co-develop a social work knowledge system that will continue to provide nurturance for the next generation from whom further growth will continue to sprout.