The Challenge of Social Work in Africa: Starting the Indigenisation Process

This article puts a case for the indigenisation of social work in Mrica. The need for indeginisation is based upon the realisation that social work in Africa has failed to respond appropriately to the major social problems confronting the region. The social work profession is heavily influenced by Western theory and no meaningful attempts have been made to ensure that the profession fits into the social, economic and practical environment in which it operates. The article therefore emphasises the need for the social work profession to redefme itself and assume a new character. It is suggested that social work should adopt a development approach which in essence requires social workers to play a variety of roles within the framework of social development In order to fulftl this function, to a reorientation in the training of social workers is necessary including a reappraisal of the knowledge, values and skills necessary for meaningful and appropriate social work intervention.