Ubuntu is occupying more and more spaces in discussions in and outside academia. In 2024, below are some indaba, conference and symposium planned.

Ubuntu Conference 2024, Africa University, Zimbabwe

Ubuntu has now been reduced to a simplistic (mis-)understanding of Ubuntu as universal human decency or humaneness and interconnectedness (Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu). This conference challenges this simplistic view of Ubuntu.

Leading and emerging heritage studies scholars, scientists, political scientists, cultural anthropologists, cultural artists, linguists, archaeologists, economists, historians, theologians, philosophers, social scientists, community leaders, and activists will explore the indigenous Black African worldview known as Isintu/Chivanhu/Setso/Mila, which has now been reduced to a simplistic (mis-)understanding of Ubuntu as universal human decency or humaneness and interconnectedness (Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu). The more holistic and multi-pronged conceptualisation of Ubuntu that will emerge from this conference will help establish how best the concept and worldview salient in it can be deployed as the foundation shaping relationships, knowledge, values, practices, and meaning-making among people of African descent. Doing so provides the much-needed space to capture, process, represent, and preserve both the experiences and ongoing struggles for self-determination and self-expression among Black African and other Indigenous communities.Themes for this conference:

Theorising Ubuntu	Ubuntu and contemporary African identities	Getting Black Africa out of bondage and into dominion
Ubuntu (Hunhu/Botho/Wutu) Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila as matrix of Ubuntu/Hunhu/Setso/Wutu Humanising Black Africa and the Black African race-nations Ubuntu and decoloniality Ubuntu and knowledge Ubuntu and indigeneity Ubuntu as a geopolitical concept Ubuntu and Digitising the Humanities Ubuntu and STEM/STEAM	Ubuntu and being (A)Bantu/Vanhu/Batho/Watu Ubuntu and racial, ethnic, national, religious, and linguistic identities Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila, feminism, and LGBTQI+ agenda Ubuntu and the Decolonisation agenda Ubuntu and human sexuality Resolving the Black African identity crisis Ubuntu as a geopolitical tool of the (A)Bantu/Vanhu/Batho/Watu Ubuntu, globalisation, and internationalisation Ubuntu, Pan-Africanism, and Afrocentricity	Ubuntu and the Black African condition Ubuntu and hegemonic discourses of development Ubuntu and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila innovation, science and technology Social protection and inclusion for the Black African peoples in the digital era Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila and climate change
Ubuntu and holistic well-being in the 4IR era	Ubuntu, religion and spirituality in a digital age	Politics and governance in the light of Ubuntu philosophy
Ubuntu counselling models Ubuntu and Restorative Justice Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila inspired Social Programs and Mental Health and Well-being solutions Ubuntu and AI-driven Social Work interventions Behavioural finance, coping and stress management	Ubuntu and Indigenous/traditional religion African Christian anthropology in a digital age Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila spirituality and religiosity Reimagining Ubuntu theology in the digital era Ubuntu as a spirituality of liberation Ubuntu and Pastoral Care in a digital age	Humane migrant management regimes Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila vs hegemonic discourses human rights, child rights, and animal rights Chivanhu/Setso/Isintu/Mila and ‘living for democracy’ Decolonising International Relations and Diplomacy Ubuntu and African politics Defining and affirming interests of the Black African race-nations for a new geopolitical dispensation

Ubuntu 2024 Conference, The Network: Towards Unity For Health & Rural WONCA, South Africa

Held under the overall theme People, Place, and Policy for Community Wellness from September 10-13, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, the conference had themes listed below.

Ubuntu is often translated as “I am, because you are”. Ubuntu has its roots in humanist African philosophy, where the idea of community is one of the building blocks of society. It’s a call to community, we are who we are because of each other. It’s a spirit of togetherness and humanity towards others. Ubuntu 2024.

• Building Equity for Rural Health
• Community Engagement for Local and Global Health
• Social and Health Policies for the Public Good
• Educating the Health Workforce

Fundo yaUbuntu/ Ubuntu Annual Lecture, November 2024, global

Organised by the African Social Work and Development Network, this event is now in its 3rd year.

Ubuntu Africentric Conference, Kruger National Park in South Africa from September 26th to 28th, 2024

Focused on decolonising AI, this conference will be held in the heart of the stunning Kruger National Park, against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, the 2024 Ubuntu Africentric Conference is set to be a momentous gathering. From September 26th to 28th, 2024, this event will convene visionaries, thought leaders, and practitioners from around the globe to delve into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) through the lens of Ubuntu philosophy.

The main theme of this conference is AI for the People: An Ubuntu Approach to Transforming Health, Education, and Economic Landscapes.

At the core of this conference lies a profound exploration of Ubuntu philosophy—a timeless African wisdom that underscores community, connection, and mutual care. The theme, “AI for the People: An Ubuntu Approach to Transforming Health, Education, and Economic Landscapes,” speaks to a commitment to harnessing AI for inclusive, equitable, and beneficial outcomes for all.

Bridging Worlds and Fostering Inclusivity: The conference sets out to bridge worlds, marrying cutting-edge AI technologies with the enduring principles of Ubuntu. By doing so, it aims to ensure that AI development benefits all members of society. Key objectives include fostering inclusivity in vital areas such as health, education, and economic growth, and cultivating collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

Why this conference?

• To Cultivate Collaboration: Engage a diverse group of stakeholders from across the globe to share insights, challenges, and innovations.
• To Bridge Worlds: Unite cutting-edge AI technologies with Ubuntu’s wisdom, ensuring AI development benefits all of society.
• To Foster Inclusivity: Create solutions that promote equity in health, education, and economic growth.

More information about Ubuntu

www.africasocialwork.net/ubuntu