Skip to content
  • Home
  • About|Join
  • Ethics
  • Events
  • Certificates
  • OwiaBulletin
  • Journals
  • DecolonisingCalculators
  • Mfundo|Training
  • FundiDictionary
  • Awards
  • Ushahidi
  • DACC
  • Bookshop
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Academia AJSW
Africa Social Work and Development Network | Mtandao waKazi zaJamii naMaendeleo waAfrica
Africa Social Work & Development Network | Mtandao waKazi zaJamii naMaendeleo waAfrika

Africa Social Work & Development Network | Mtandao waKazi zaJamii naMaendeleo waAfrika

We create, aggregate and disseminate information and resources to facilitate Social Work and Development Work in Africa.

  • ACADEMICS
    • Lecture Resources
    • Lectures
    • Fieldwork Resources
    • Types of University Assessments
    • Book Publishing
      • Book_Professional Social Work in Zimbabwe
    • ASWDNet Guide to Writing (Journals)
    • ASWDNet Guide to Writing and Publishing
  • PRACTITIONERS
    • Values and Ethics in Africa
    • Africa Social Work and Development Awards
    • Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
    • Templates, Models, Frameworks and Assessment Tools
    • African Theories
    • Supervision
  • STUDENTS
    • Social Work and Development Student Conference (SWDSC)
    • 12 Steps to Get Published
    • Tips for Prospective Doctoral Students
    • ASWDNet Guide to Writing (Academic Research Brief| Proposal | Thesis)
    • Writing a journal article could be as easy as making fufu, nsima, ugali or matoke!
    • Lectures
  • RESEARCHERS
    • Research Methods
    • African Independent Ethics Committee (AIEC)
    • Research Questions Bank
    • Publisher/Journal Checker
    • Research Strategies
    • Reviewers
    • Ubuntu Research Group (URG)
  • ASSOCIATIONS
  • TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
  • COMMUNITIES
    • Ubuntu Fundraising and Charity Principles
    • COVID-19
    • Social Work for Children
    • Funda KiSwahili
  • MEMBERS
  • Africa Philosophy
  • African Theories
  • Research Methods
  • Library | Databases
  • Social Work
    • Social Work Education institutions (SWEI) in Africa
    • Biography of Social Development in Africa
      • Charlotte Makgomo-Mannya Maxeke (1871-1939)
      • Zahia Marzouk (1906 – 1988)
      • Regina Gelana Twala (1908-1968)
      • Mai Musodzi Chibhaga Ayema (1885-1952)
      • Nnoseng Ellen Kate Kuzwayo (1914 – 2006)
      • Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo (19 June 1917 – 1 July 1999)
      • Jairos Jiri (1921 – 1982)
      • Kenneth Buchizya Kaunda (1924-2021)
      • John Samuel Mbiti (1931-2019)
      • Gibson Mthuthuzeli Kent (1932-2004)
      • Winnie Madikizela-Mandela 1936–2016
      • Ngugi wa Mirii (1951 – May 3, 2008)
      • Andrew Chad Nyanguru (28 Mar 1953-14 May 2014)
      • Professor Rodreck Mupedziswa
      • Edwell Kaseke (1954-2017)
      • Lovemore Mbigi
      • Selassie Seyoum Gebre (1936-)
      • Arega Yimam (-c1989)
      • Dr Noel Garikai Muridzo
      • Dr Edmos Mthethwa
      • Phillip Manyanye Bohwasi
      • Wassie Kebede
      • Gidraph G Wairire
      • Wangari Muta Maathai
      • Uzoma Odera Okoye, Dr
    • Social Work Journals and Other Serial Publications in Africa (ASWDNet Index)
    • Kuumba (Mentoring)
      • SURVEY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES FOR AFRICA
      • Mentees
      • Mentors
      • Guidelines
    • Association of Social Work Education in Africa (ASWEA) – 1965 to 1989
    • Future of Social Work in Africa
    • Environmental Social Work
  • Development
    • Developmental Work Database
  • Ubuntu
    • Ubuntu Research Group (URG)
    • Ushahidi Platform
    • Ubuntu Fundraising and Charity Principles
    • Ubuntu Bibliography
    • Ubuntu Survey
    • Ubuntu Annual Lecture
    • Ubuntu Interview Guide Sample
  • Africa
    • African Anthem (African Union)
    • Umoja waAfrica (African Union)
    • Fundi – The African Dictionary and Encyclopaedia of Social Work and Development
    • Africa Religion (uAfrica)
    • maJina | Directory of Africa Names
    • Africa Research Ethics and Malpractice Statement (AREMS)
    • The San Code of Research Ethics (San Code)
  • Blog
    • Our Ubuntu-inspired Comments Policy
    • Become a Blogger
    • Admin ASWDNet
    • Babekazi
    • Professor Roy@Indigenous Social Work
    • Mutape J.D.S Sithole
    • Alemayehu Gebru from Ethiopia, Jimma City
    • Rugare Mugumbate
    • Decolonise
    • Writing and Publishing
    • Development
    • Toto
    • Ms. Alexandra Thokozile Mliswa (MSc,LLB, BA)
    • Environmental work
    • Africa religion | Spirituality
    • Kudzai Mwapaura blogger
    • All Posts Basket
YOU ARE HERE » Home » John Samuel Mbiti (1931-2019)

Like this:

Like Loading...
Program released for DAC Students Conference 2025 Admin ASWDNet
2025 awards announced (Africa Social Work and Development Awards) Admin ASWDNet
Using Ubuntu values to decolonise AI systems, Professor Mutambara, UJ Admin ASWDNet

John Samuel Mbiti (1931-2019)

John Samuel Mbiti, Kenya (30 November 1931 to 5 October 2019)

“I am because WE are and, since we are, therefore I am.”

Mbiti, 1969

Professor John Samuel Mbiti was not a social worker but a philosopher, theologian, and pan-Africanist. He was born in Kitui, Kenya. He studied English, sociology and geography at University College of Makerere in Kampala, Uganda in 1953. He lectured religion and theology at Makerere University from 1964 to 1974. His main philosophical ideas are contained in a seminal book published in 1969 titled African Religions and Philosophy. This book contributes significantly to African philosophy and has several ideas that are relevant for social work including, but not limited to ubuntu, decolonisation, indigenisation, spirituality, religion, ethnicity, kinship, birth, child development, initiation, marriage, procreation, death, ethics, justice and identity.

Mbiti was an ordained priest, who led renowned world christian organisations.

Mbiti’s philosophy has two related dimensions, Africanism and The Philosophy of African Religion.

Africanism

This philosophy answers the question, What does it mean to be African? Mbiti (1969, p. 106) said “What happens to the individual happens to the whole group, and whatever happens to the whole group, community or country happens to the individual. People, country, environment and spirituality are intricately related. The individual can only say: ‘I am because we are; and since we are, therefore I am’.”

The Philosophy of African Religion

Mbiti is regarded as the father of modern African theology. His main idea is Africa has its own religion. He challenged the European view that Africa has no religion of its own, and the colonial and Christian view that African religious views are primitive, demonic and evil, and Africans are savages. He argued that African religion and religious views are just as legitimate and require respect as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. He translated the New Testament from Greek into his mother tongue, Kamba. During the translation, he noted more than 1000 mistakes and misrepresentations that were in the westernised Kamba Bible. Promoted inclusion of African religions and philosophy within curriculum despite scepticism and opposition mainly from missionaries.

Mbiti said “Even though attempts are made to give Christianity an African character, its Western form is in many ways foreign to African peoples. This foreignness is a drawback because it means that Christianity is kept on the surface and is not free to deepen its influence in all areas of African life and problems.”

Strength

  • Mbiti’s work was decolonial, he challenged colonial thinking.
  • His work was based on field research in Africa with over 300 tribes
  • Promoted orature, for example, proverbs, rituals, prayers and memories. Even though African philosophies were not written at the time, they existed in oral forms and practices. He collected and published over 300 African prayers
  • His writing was based on his lectures at Makerere University in Uganda, making it relevant for Africa
  • His seminal work was published in Africa, in Johannesburg
  • He promoted indigenous languages.
  • Challenged prejudice against the African cultural and religious heritage

Criticism

  • More Christian focused and tried to Christianise African religious worldviews
  • Okot p’Bitek, Uganda said Mbiti used western intellectual understanding of religion to interpret Africa’s view of God
  • Married and settled in Switzerland, worked and died there, betraying his pan-Africanist ideology
  • Professor Mbiti’s work exposed Africans to colonisers. For example, he publsihed information about African beliefs, and what could help make Africans more Christian or more Islamic. By criticising the methods of Christianity and Islam in Africa, he was actually providing colonialists and missionaries with tools to improve their methods. In that way, it could be said Professor Mbiti’s was was no different from those of anthropologists like Alfred R. Radcliffe-Brown, Bronisław K. Malinowski and Michael F C Bourdillon who studied Africans for the benefit of colonisers.

Works written

  1. Akamba stories (1966) Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. African Religions and Philosophy (1969)
  3. Concepts of God in Africa (1970).  
  4. Love and Marriage in Africa (1973).
  5. Introduction to African Religion (1975). 
  6. African proverbs (1997) UNISA. Pretoria
  7. The prayers of African Religion (1975). London: SPCK

Share this:

  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram

Like this:

Like Loading...

AFRICA-WIDE INSTITUTIONS

ASWEA logo

ASWEA 1965-1989

Umoja waAfrika (AU) Former OAU Toto/Brief | Agenda63

ADF

Part of ADB

ASSWA logo

ASSWA

Since 2005

PAWO (AU Arm)

Facebook | X

COUNTRY INFORMATION (SOCIAL WORK & DEVELOPMENT)

  • Algeria 🇩🇿
  • Angola 🇦🇴
  • Benin 🇧🇯
  • Botswana 🇧🇼
  • Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
  • Burundi 🇧🇮
  • Cabo Verde 🇨🇻
  • Cameroon 🇨🇲
  • Central Africa Republic 🇨🇫
  • Chad 🇹🇩
  • Comoros 🇰🇲
    • Mayotte of Comoro
  • Congo, DR 🇨🇩
  • Congo 🇨🇬
  • Cote D’Ivoire 🇨🇮
  • Djibouti 🇩🇯
  • Egypt 🇪🇬
  • Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶
  • Eritrea 🇪🇷
  • Eswatini 🇸🇿
  • Ethiopia 🇪🇹
  • Gabon 🇬🇦
  • Gambia, The 🇬🇲
  • Ghana 🇬🇭
  • Guinea 🇬🇳
  • Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼
  • Kenya 🇰🇪
  • Lesotho 🇱🇸
  • Liberia 🇱🇷
  • Libya 🇱🇾
  • Madagascar 🇲🇬
  • Malawi 🇲🇼
  • Mali 🇲🇱
  • Mauritania 🇲🇷
  • Mauritius 🇲🇺
  • Morocco 🇲🇦
  • Mozambique 🇲🇿
  • Namibia 🇳🇦
  • Niger 🇳🇪
  • Nigeria 🇳🇬
  • Rwanda 🇷🇼
  • Sao Tome and Principe 🇸🇹
  • Senegal 🇸🇳
  • Seychelles 🇸🇨
  • Sierra Leone 🇸🇱
  • Somalia 🇸🇴
  • South Africa 🇿🇦
  • South Sudan 🇸🇸
  • Sudan 🇸🇩
  • Togo 🇹🇬
  • Tanzania 🇹🇿
  • Tunisia 🇹🇳
  • Uganda 🇺🇬
  • Western Sahara (SADR)
  • Zambia 🇿🇲
  • Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
  • “Dongo”
  • ‘Wakanda’
  • Umoja waAfrica (African Union)
  • Afro-Caribbeans
    • Haiti
  • Afro-Latinos
  • Melanesia
    • Aboriginal Countries
    • Papua New Guinea
    • West Papua
  • Afro-Asians ‘Sidi’

COVID-19 FINAL UPDATE: Africa Infections: 12.3 million people. Deaths 260 000. World infections: 650 million. Deaths 6.7 million. Data aggregated by ASWDNet on 12 December 2022. View this COVID-19 references list for Africa.

Search

Timezone Conversion

Choose Date & Time:
- :
From Timezone:
To Timezone:
Converted Time:

Decolonisation Calculator (DECA). What is the rate of decolonisation of social work and development training, education and research in your country? Use this simple calculator.

  • Program released for DAC Students Conference 2025
  • 2025 awards announced (Africa Social Work and Development Awards)
  • Using Ubuntu values to decolonise AI systems, Professor Mutambara, UJ
  • Citing local is the simplest way to empower African authors, journals and publishers
  • Ubuntu Online Course now available (free)

Testimonials

Pride in becoming a member of the ASWDNet

Dear ASWDN,

I trust this message finds you well. I am writing to express my profound joy and pride in becoming a member of the Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet). The opportunity to represent my country and community within this esteemed network is truly exciting. Being a part of ASWDNet presents a unique chance to contribute to positive change and development. Read more
  • Wazee Indaba – Day for Older Persons 2024 Wazee
  • Integrated Musha/Nyumba Theory of Socio-economic development Development
  • Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations (AU theme 2025) Admin ASWDNet
  • Day of the African Child (DAC) 2024 Admin ASWDNet
  • Total Agreement Technique in African Research Ethics: A Culturally Sensitive Approach to Informed Consent Ethics - African views
  • 2025 awards announced (Africa Social Work and Development Awards) Admin ASWDNet
  • Olabisi Adebawo appointed the new Ethics Officer for the African Independent Ethics Committee (AIEC) Admin ASWDNet
  • Africa Ageing Theory Admin ASWDNet

Copyright © 2020-2030 Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet).

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d