Author: Rugare Mugumbate

Interested in social work and development in Africa and the recognition, valuing and use of indigenous philosophies such as Ubuntu.

How Annonciata Niyibizi Muhayimana created the Ingata of Life Narrative Model

7 August 20267 August 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

IN HER OWN WORDS: I am a Rwandan narrative therapist, community work practitioner and psychosocial wellbeing consultant with over 15 years of experience supporting vulnerable families, women, children, single parents/mothers and refugee communities. I hold advanced qualifications from the University of Melbourne and the University of Rwanda, and I currently coordinate the Nutrition School Garden…

Admin ASWDNet, Research - African methods, Teaching and Learning (Fundo)

Students as knowledge creators: Reflections on the 16 June Day of the African Child Conference for Students (DACCS2026)

18 June 202618 June 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

Please note this post is longer than usual posts that we publish on the Mtandao platform. Every year on 16 June, Africa marks the Day of the African Child. For the social work and development community on the continent, this date has taken on an additional meaning. Since 2023, it has been the day students…

Day of the African Child, Students

More than just showing up: how to get the most out of a conference

14 June 202614 June 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

This is a long post. It covers every significant reason to attend a conference and how to make the most of each one. Use the headings to navigate to what is most relevant to you, or read it through and build your conference plan from there. Start with a plan Before you register, before you…

Admin ASWDNet

Africa Day Indaba 2026 for Australasia and the Pacific

12 April 202624 April 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

This year’s Africa Day Indaba 2025 for Australasia and the Pacific will be on 23 May 2026, online. The indaba was started in 2024 to utilise Africa Day as a bridge between academia (universities, researchers and academics) and community (families, community organisations and networks). Concept Brief (html) Background Africa Day is commemorated on 25 May each…

Africa Day, African Union, Australasia and the Pacific

What is Harambee, and at what level in social work and development is it most useful?

31 March 202631 March 2026 Rugare Mugumbate 4 Comments

Lecture by Rugare Mugumbate Welcome. I am answering the question: what is Harambee, and at what level in social work and development is it most useful? I am convener of Mtandao, which is the Africa Social Work and Development Network. I am also a research associate with the University of Johannesburg, and an academic at…

Admin ASWDNet

New evidence on Ubuntu: Facilitators and barriers to the use of Ubuntu values in social work and social development

6 March 20267 March 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

Authors:Janestic Mwende TwikirizeRugare MugumbateChinwe R. NwannaMfundo Mandla MasukuSharlotte TusasiirweRobert Kudakwashe ChigangaidzeBernard MayakaReceived 16 Jul 2025, Accepted 17 Feb 2026, Published online: 04 Mar 2026All authors are members of the Ubuntu Research Group (URG) organised by ASWDNetAccess this article https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2026.2635374 Cite as: Twikirize, J. M., Mugumbate, R., Nwanna, C. R., Masuku, M. M., Tusasiirwe, S., Chigangaidze,…

Ubuntu

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA)

5 March 202627 February 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

ASWDNET has signed a three-year, non-monetary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA). ASSWA is a continental body that brings together member schools of social work to advance social work education, research, standards and institutional collaboration across Africa. By contrast, ASWDNET is a membership network of individuals…

Admin ASWDNet

Dr Mzukisi Xweso’s appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Ubuntu | Nyingi waUbuntu

25 February 202618 February 2026 Rugare Mugumbate No Comments

Dr Mzukisi Xweso’s appointment as Editor-in-Chief on 1 March 2026 marks a significant milestone for the Journal of Ubuntu | Nyingi waUbuntu. Since joining as a founding board member in 2024, his contributions have been rooted in a deep commitment to African-centred philosophies and transformative scholarship. A Senior Lecturer at North-West University, his expertise in…

Admin ASWDNet

Samora Machel’s Theory of Superstition and its Firmer Implications for Social Work and Development

6 July 20257 July 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

“To ensure our victory, we must destroy the remnants of colonialism in our minds. Superstition is one of its weapons — and we must defeat it.” — Samora Machel, 1975. While growing up, and as an adult and leader, Machel experienced superstition. For him it was not a theory but an experience. He argued that…

Admin ASWDNet, Spirituality

Pumzika Mzee Ngugi waThiongo

31 May 202531 May 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

Mzee Ngugi, son of Thiongo died at the age 87 on 28 May this week. Rest well, pumzika, Mzee. He was born 1938, Kamirithu, Kenya. He studied at the renowned Makerere University in Uganda. His family participated in decolonisation of Kenyan land from the British. One brother was killed in the Mau Mau Uprising and…

Wazee

Njema Afrika Siku

25 May 202525 May 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

The Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet) wishes you a happy Africa Day. Africa Day was started in 1963, initially as Africa Freedom Day and Africa Liberation Day. Our message to you on this important day is short and simple, we say keep doing the good things you are doing for the continent and…

Africa Day Indaba 2025 for Australasia and the Pacific

30 April 202523 May 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

This year’s Africa Day Indaba 2025 for Australasia and the Pacific will be on 23 May 2025, online. Concept Brief (html) Background Africa Day is commemorated on 25 May each year. This annual celebration marks the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), and serves as an important occasion…

Africa Day, African Union, Australasia and the Pacific

Tips for using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Generate Content Relevant to Africa

13 January 202513 January 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

The methodology used to create this AI generated article was as follows: The AI application used was MetaAI, an application developed by Meta (formerly Facebook), an American company. The application was accessed through the WhatsApp platform. The first prompt or question that was entered in the MetaAI search box was ‘How do you prompt AI…

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Karibu, could you please help with contact details (takes -5 minutes)?

19 August 202420 August 2024 Rugare Mugumbate

We are gathering contact details of social work and development institutions in Africa for the Ushahidi Ubuntu Digital Project. Please use the form below. Weebale. Matondi. Merci

Admin ASWDNet

The baobab tree metaphor of action research

15 March 202415 March 2024 Rugare Mugumbate

Action research tests potential solutions to social and development problems to find the most effective ones. It is simply a social or development experiment. The types of action research are: The specific methods of action research are: The baobab tree metaphor of participatory action One upon a time, a community needed baobab fruits from a…

Admin ASWDNet

Strategies to achieve high levels of originality, independent thought and authentic writing

9 March 20249 June 2024 Rugare Mugumbate 1 Comment

When writing — book chapters, book, blog post, social media message or journal article — it is important to think independently and write originally. This is important because society needs more new instead of recycled knowledge. Further, originality is positively related to indigenising and decolonising. For new writers, they can be forgiven because this skill…

Admin ASWDNet, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Ushahidi

31 January 202431 January 2024 Rugare Mugumbate

Ushahidi is a phone and computer application or software developed in Kenya, Africa, to collect information from the community and show it on a map. Ushahidi is a Swahili word meaning testimony or witness. Ushahidi empowers people through citizen-generated data to develop solutions that strengthen their communities. The Ushahidi Platform helps communities turn information into…

Artificial Intelligence (AI): How to avoid students cheating assessments

28 September 20232 March 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

It is true that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can think for students and make them less critical learners. Ultimately, they become less critical practitioners or graduates. The other challenge with AI is that it can provide valueless information, resulting in students getting low grades or failing or being misled. It has to be used with…

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Decolonise, Rugare Mugumbate, Toto

Ubuntu-Inspired Workshop or Seminar – An Example and Skills for Facilitators

5 May 20239 May 2023 Rugare Mugumbate

Cite as: Mugumbate, R. (2023). Ubuntu-Inspired Workshop or Seminar – An Example and Skills for Facilitators. Blog post at https://africasocialwork.net/blog Context I am a social work academic who values and uses decolonised methods in education and research. In this blog, I will share my experience running an Ubuntu-inspired workshop as part of World Social Work…

Admin ASWDNet, Rugare Mugumbate

Types of University Assessments – A Developmental Approach

14 April 202318 March 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

Cite as: Mugumbate, R. (2023). Types of University Assessments – A Developmental Approach. Blog post at https://africasocialwork.net/blog Learning at home, in the village or suburb, community, at school or at any level of society, requires ‘teachers or trainers’ to know how much learning their ‘students’ acquired in terms of knowledge, skills, and growth. There are…

All Posts Basket, Rugare Mugumbate

Twelve (12) Tips and Information for Prospective Doctoral Students

11 February 202221 January 2025 Rugare Mugumbate

The four types or levels of degrees are associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral. The bachelor’s and master’s degree are usually easy to understand. An associate degree is done is less time than a bachelor’s, usually two to three years and equal to an advanced, level three or higher diploma in other countries. A doctoral program…

Admin ASWDNet

Ignatius Mabasa’s thesis in an African language: Why it is important to use African languages in education, research and publishing

7 April 202123 February 2026 Rugare Mugumbate

In 2021, renowned African author Ignatius Mabasa completed his doctor of philosophy (PhD) thesis in his language. He conceptualised, wrote and published his thesis in Shona. The thesis is titled Chave Chemutengure Vhiri Rengoro: Husarungano Nerwendo Rwengano Dzevashona, meaning The folktale in confrontation with a changing world: a Shona storyteller’s autoethnography. The Zimbabwean was a…

Admin ASWDNet