New Directions in Social Work Education in Africa: Challenges and Prospects; Guest editors: Susan Levy and Uzoma Okoye

New Directions in Social Work Education in Africa: Challenges and Prospects; Guest editors: Susan Levy and Uzoma Okoye

New Directions in Social Work Education in Africa: Challenges and Prospects is a newly published Special Issue in Social Work Education: International Journal, edited by Susan Levy and Uzoma Okoye.  The collection brings to the fore some of the unique, rich, and varied aspects in contemporary African social work education, and will contribute to the knowledge base to inform, shape, and guide social work education and practice in the Global South and Global North.

Social Work in Africa is engaged in finding pathways to respond to complex, multi-dimensional social issues.  The genesis of many of these contemporary challenges have roots in colonialism and the legacy of colonialism. A central question threaded through all the papers, is how to challenge the continued dominance and privileging of Western knowledge over local and culturally relevant knowledge. The papers coalesce around decolonising, indigenising, and diversifying the knowledge that is valued and centred within academia, education, and practice.  It is hoped that this collection will stimulate future discussions, contribute to the growing literature, and play a part in enhancing and deepening understanding of contemporary African social work education.