Ubuntu Interview Guide Sample

You are free to use any or all of the topics and questions below for your interviews on Ubuntu. You can also use the whole interview guide.

The interview is meant to exchange knowledge between the interviewer and interviewee, and not just questions and answers. The listeners will learn from both the interviewer and interviewee.

Discuss the topics and questions with interviewee and then select the topics they are happy to answer. Topics 1-3 and 12 are for everyone. At the end of the interviews, we aim to have all topics covered.

Start recording

Start by saying:

My name is …..
Welcome to this discussion (call it a discussion not an interview).
We will discuss Ubuntu philosophy and its place in social work and development.
Before you start, could you please introduce yourself.

Start 1-3 above in an African language, then in English.

Then say:

In this discussion, we see Ubuntu as ‘the worldview of Black people of Africa from where they derive relational (ukama), communal (ujamaa), societal (ujamii), environmental (imvelo) and spiritual (uroho) knowledges, values and practices’, (Mugumbate, Mupedziswa, Twikirize, Mthethwa, & Oyinlola, 2023, p. 2). We see the main values of Ubuntu as communityness, justice, reciprocity, resistance, productivity, relations and respect. More information about Ubuntu can be obtained from https://africasocialwork.net/ubuntu/

1. First, let us talk about the roots and your early understanding of Ubuntu.

How was Ubuntu explained or demonstrated to you as a child?
Who in the community embodied, personified or exemplified Ubuntu for you?
There is a misconception that Ubuntu is simply about being forgiving, tolerating, sharing and subservient, what are your thoughts? What other misconceptions can you think of?
Under Ubuntu theory of education, learning happens in the family, community and environment, meaning the families, communities and environments are teachers. What is your comment based on your experience?

2. Now, let’s explore Ubuntu in your African tongue and cultural practices.

What is the word/concept for Ubuntu in your language?
In your community or culture, does Ubuntu have nuances or meanings beyond the mainstream definition?
Are you able to explain any of these concepts: Ubudlelane (from the isiXhosa peoplemi in South Africa), Omoluwabi (from the Yoruba people in Nigeria), Obuntu Bulamu (Uganda), Motho ke motho ka batho (Sotho or Tswana), Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (Nguni languages), Munhu munhu nevanhu (Shona)
Are there rituals, ceremonies, artefacts, songs, or sayings in your community that teach Ubuntu?

3. Next, I am interested in Ubuntu in everyday life.

In most African cultures, Ubuntu philosophy has key values such as communityness, justice, reciprocity, resistance, productivity, relations and respect. Can you share your thoughts on what this mean?
Can you share a memory where Ubuntu was lived (not just spoken about) in your community?
How does Ubuntu shape conflict resolution or sharing resources (e.g., land, food, childcare)?
How has urbanisation, migration, or technology impacted Ubuntu in your community?
Are there tensions between Ubuntu values and modern economic/political systems? How can these be bridged?
In their theories of ageing, both Dr. Uzoma Odera Okoye (Nigeria) and Professor Andrew Nyanguru (Zimbabwe) emphasised the positive contribution of older adults in the family and society, what is your interpretation?

4. Before we go further, let’s do a Sankofa, that is go back to history to learn.

In Kamite (meaning Black Land/Land of Blacks in ancient Egypt), the philosophy of Maat, just like Ubuntu today, reflected a vision of societal harmony, rooted in fairness, collective responsibility, and the interconnectedness of individuals within a community. Share your views?
Cheikh Anta Diop from Senegal is known for the theory of African origin of Ancient Egyptian civilization (Diop, 1974). This takes the origins of Ubuntu to Black people in Egypt. This knowledge is often missing in education. Why?
If Ubuntu can be traced back to Kamite, then all groups of Black Africans were involved in its development – the Bantu, Kush, Ba, Khoi, San, Hadza and Sandawe, and this includes those taken to Asia, America and Europe during slavery. Do you anything to add?

5. We can now turn to Ubuntu in development.

Mzee Kenneth Kaunda has this about Ubuntu “The National productivity drive must involve a communal approach to all development programs. This calls for a community and team spirit…” What do you think?
What are the implications of Ubuntu to developmental social work?
When you think about the environment, what is the role of Ubuntu in sustaining it?

6. And now to an important topic, Ubuntu justice.

Ubuntu justice emphasises deterrence; returning, replacement and compensation; apology, forgiveness and reconciliation; and warnings and punishments. Comment on these.
How can these justice principles Ubuntu address inequality, discrimination, or exclusion within communities, society and globally?
Have you seen Ubuntu misused (e.g., to suppress dissent or justify harmful traditions)? Why, what can be done?
Gender justice. How does Ubuntu interpret it, what needs to change?
Land injustice, especially because of colonisation is a key issue in Africa, what does Ubuntu say about land ownership and inheritance?
How can Ubuntu justice be used to address land injustice?

7. Of course, Ubuntu has shaped education in several ways.

Omona (1998) from university of Makerere said education must achieve
Preparationism or preparedness (obwetekatekyi in Rukiga Language in Uganda). Prepare children for future economic, social, political and cultural roles in in the family, the tribe or the clan, community and society. What do you think?
Functionalism (omugasho). Education must serve a function to the learner, family, community and society in which it takes place. What do you think?
Communalism (kukorera hamwe). Sense of community, cooperative learning and the view that it takes a whole community to teach. What do you think?
Perennialism (ekimazire obwire bureingwa). Valuing knowledge from the past or looking back to what African philosophers said. What do you think?
Holisticism (kutwara ekintu hamwe). Which means valuing knowledge of the past or looking back to what African philosophers said. What do you think?

Ugandan theorist Pio Zirimu is credited with coining the word orature, meaning oral literature. Most Ubuntu knowledge is oral. How important is orature and language in African education?

8. We can’t go without talking about Ubuntu’s usefulness in research.

Ubuntu is used to inform research aims, methods, ethics and analysis, how do you or would you use Ubuntu in research?
Chilisa, a Motswana research theorist said Ubuntu humanizes and decolonizes research, in what ways?

9. It is important for us to discuss Ubuntu in practice.

In Zimbabwe, they have indigenized, decolonized and contextualized their code of ethics by making Ubuntu central to ethics. What are the lessons for others from this?
The South African Social Development Department has Ubuntu as a guiding principle, what are your reflections.
In Botswana, botho guides national development, how can others replicate this?
How can the use of Ubuntu be increased in laws, organizational plans, policies, ethics, curricula and fieldwork manuals?

10. African renaissance, the future of Ubuntu.

The African renaissance is a period where African philosophy becomes the main worldview in African again, what is required for this to happen?
How can the African Union and governments accelerate the renaissance of Africa?
In their book Ubuntu/Hunhu, the Samkange talk of people centred servant leadership, respecting the sanctity of life and relational approaches as key Ubuntu characteristics, what do you think in relation to African politics and leadership?

11. Let’s delve into Ubuntu globally.

A few years ago, Ubuntu was recognised globally as a theme for social work by IFSW and IASSW, how important was this to you? How do we keep Ubuntu a priority?
Can Ubuntu coexist with Western individualism?
Should Ubuntu be ‘taught’ to outsiders, or is it only meaningful within its cultural context?
What Ubuntu ethics, values and theories could be used by other communities globally?
In Du Bois book The Souls of Black Folk (1903), the theory double consciousness was born to explain the challenge of balancing Ubuntu in the diaspora because there are two competing philosophies, or more. How should the African Diaspora keep engaging with Ubuntu? What are opportunities and challenges?
What would you ask the world to learn from Ubuntu?
How does Ubuntu contribute to resistance to oppression & decolonisation?

12. Lastly, some laughs, and lighter moments and an opportunity for you to recommend some literature including your on publications, whatever you want and say goodbye.

Complete the metaphor the way you like ‘Ubuntu is like…’ (e.g., Ubuntu is like a tree—its roots are shared).
Can you share an Ubuntu proverb you wish everyone knew, and say what it means?
Can you recommend some literature?
Do you have anything else to say?

Thank interviewee in an African language.

Stop recording

List of the topics

1. Your early understanding of Ubuntu.

2. Ubuntu in your African tongue and cultural practices.

3. Ubuntu in everyday life.

4. Ubuntu history

5. Ubuntu in development.

6. Ubuntu justice.

7. Ubuntu in education

8. Ubuntu’s usefulness in research.

9. Ubuntu in practice.

10. African renaissance, the future of Ubuntu.

11 Ubuntu globally.

12. Recommend some literature including your on publications

Like this:

1. First, let us talk about the roots and your early understanding of Ubuntu.

2. Now, let’s explore Ubuntu in your African tongue and cultural practices.

3. Next, I am interested in Ubuntu in everyday life.

4. Before we go further, let’s do a Sankofa, that is go back to history to learn.

5. We can now turn to Ubuntu in development.

6. And now to an important topic, Ubuntu justice.

7. Of course, Ubuntu has shaped education in several ways.

8. We can’t go without talking about Ubuntu’s usefulness in research.

9. It is important for us to discuss Ubuntu in practice.

10. African renaissance, the future of Ubuntu.

11. Let’s delve into Ubuntu globally.

12. Lastly, some laughs, and lighter moments and an opportunity for you to recommend some literature including your on publications, whatever you want and say goodbye.

List of the topics

Like this:

1. First, let us talk about the roots and your early understanding of Ubuntu.

2. Now, let’s explore Ubuntu in your African tongue and cultural practices.

3. Next, I am interested in Ubuntu in everyday life.

4. Before we go further, let’s do a Sankofa, that is go back to history to learn.

5. We can now turn to Ubuntu in development.

6. And now to an important topic, Ubuntu justice.

7. Of course, Ubuntu has shaped education in several ways.

8. We can’t go without talking about Ubuntu’s usefulness in research.

9. It is important for us to discuss Ubuntu in practice.

10. African renaissance, the future of Ubuntu.

11. Let’s delve into Ubuntu globally.

12. Lastly, some laughs, and lighter moments and an opportunity for you to recommend some literature including your on publications, whatever you want and say goodbye.

List of the topics

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