Ubuntu Annual Lecture

Ubuntu Lectures Objective
Lecture 2025
Lecture 2024
Lecture 2023
Lecture 2022 (inaugural)

Register here for the 2025 lecture

Ubuntu Lectures Objective

To celebrate Ubuntu as the overarching philosophy of Black people of Africa that is centered on just, responsible and reciprocal relations built on indigenous cultural values of family, community, spirituality, and the environment.

Lecture 2025

Esteemed 2025 Ubuntu Lecturer is Professor Wassie Kebede (PhD), Addis Ababa University, School of Social Work, Ethiopia, Associate Editor, Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (EJOSSAH), Chair Person of Board of Advisors for Ethiopian Social Workers Professional Association (ESWPA).

Title: How could Ubuntu values of communities’ unity, justice, solidarity, cohesion, integrity and relations shape leadership in social development globally?

Day: 26 November 2025, 10-11am East Africa Time. Visit our events page for more events.

Lecture 2024

Esteemed 2024 Lecturer: Dr Charles Kalinganire, University of Rwanda, Rwanda

Day: 12 December 2024, Time: 9:00 AM South/Central African Time, More information available on our events page.

KALINGANIRE LECTURE_ASWNET 12 December 2024 (POWERPOINT)Download

KALINGANIRE LECTURE_ASWN 12 December 2024 (PDF)Download

Lecture 2023

Ubuntu lecture was held on 08 December 2023. Information available on our events page.

Lecture 2022 (inaugural)

Professor Chilisa Lecture

Professor Muwanga-Zake Lecture

Lecture 1
DECOLONISING RESEARCH & EVALUATION METHODOLOGIES by Professor Bagele Chilisa

Lecture 2
SALVAGING AFRICAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UBUNTU-BULAMU by Professor Muwanga-Zake

We encourage you to also listen to the questions and discussions at the end of each lecture.

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Deeply inspired by Mtandao/ASWDNet’s mission

Dear ASWDNet Team,

I hope this message finds you well.

My name is Hilda Ngaja a social worker based in Tanzania. I recently came across the African Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet) and was deeply inspired by its mission to create, aggregate, and disseminate African knowledges and to promote social work and development rooted in our values, languages, and lived realities.

As a social worker I strongly resonate with your emphasis on African epistemologies and values such as Ubuntu. I am especially drawn to your commitment to building emancipatory knowledge spaces for social work professionals, students, academics, and communities across the continent.

With this in mind, I would be honoured to join ASWDNet as a member and contribute to its efforts in advancing socially relevant and culturally grounded practice and scholarship in Africa.

Kindly receive the details required

Hilda Ngaja, Bachelor Degree in Social work

Referee, Dr Leah Omari, Lecturer, The Institute of Social Work

Thank you for your important work, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Inspired by Mtandao mission and goals (Bikila Tesfaye, Mtandao member number 143)

I am from the Gambella region, specifically Gambela City in Ethiopia. I joined ASWDNet after searching for membership related to my academic and professional background and was inspired by your mission and goals. I envision collaborating through knowledge and skill sharing, as well as joint initiatives that address common challenges in our communities. I recommend enhancing research, training programmes, and networking opportunities. See my interview here.

Bikila Tesfaye