Lesson 3. Ethics in Families and Communities – the Ubuntu Approach

Eight Basic Ubuntu Ethics in Research

The eight basic ubuntu ethics that we are concerned with in research are:

1. Value for Family (unhuri, familyhood)- families are an integral part of African society. While research usually focuses on individuals, these individuals must be viewed as part of families. A full and trusted story usually involves the family.
2. Respect for Community (ujamaa, ‘communityhood’)- research should promote African ‘communityhood’, uniting people and using local resources and compensating communities adequately. Local protocols should be respected, recognized and followed.
3. Decolonising – for years research languages, ethics, methods, philosophy, epistemology and ontologies have prioritized western knowledge. Present day research must prioritize African perspectives.
4. Developmental and capacity building research – funders and researchers, including African governments must be seen to be promoting growth of African research capacity. This means strengthening the work of African researchers and research institutions. Knowledge transfer is a key element when we assess externally driven research.
5. Sustainable research – research must build capacity of African researchers and African institutions to research on their own and not to be dependent on people from outside perpetually.
6. Justice – adequate recognition of co-researchers, communities, assistants contributors, facilitators and guides. Compensations should be just.
7. Value for life – every component of research must not result in harm, disease, impairment or loss of life.
8. Protection of most vulnerable populations – these include children, people with disability, people who are unable to read the language of the research, people with a mental illness, people with adequate income, people from strong spiritual backgrounds, elderly people, people in rural communities, young women and poor people.