Social Science Research and the Africanist: The Need for Intellectual and Attitudinal Reconfiguration

Abstract

This paper acknowledges that states in Africa have contributed to the problems confronting social science research on the continent. It argues, however, that the causes of the problem go beyond the state. The paper undertakes an intensive exercise in introspection within the continental and external Africanist communities to explain the problems confronting social science research on the continent. The study identifies several factors as challenges facing research: intellectual distancing of the disciplines from society, the retrogressive sociopolitical atmosphere that characterizes some African universities, and the negative attitudes of individual academics. It argues further that these problems are compounded by the politics surrounding the hierarchical processes of intellectual validation and propagation at the global level. The paper concludes that without a correction of these internal and external deficiencies, it will be difficult to maintain a respectable and beneficial level of research endeavor, integrity, collaboration, and sustainability.

Monumental funerary landscapes of Dhar Tagant (south‐eastern Mauritania): Towards ethical satellite remote sensing in the West African Sahel

“…Institutional collaboration and capacity building: Certain aspects of collaborative research may be challenging when some countries lack specialized scholars, as could hinder local processes of knowledge generation and reception. The structural challenges and constraints that African social sciences researchers face are numerous, ranging from global structural frameworks that privileges certain forms of Africanist scholarship over local African voices (Hountondji, 2002;Mkandawire, 1993), a retrogressive and gerontocratic institutional hierarchy (Ake, 1994;Zeleza, 2003) and a systemic lack of funding opportunities, which leads to a lack of fair and accessible means for the generation and presentation of novel ideas by local scholars (Mama, 2007;Tettey & Puplampu, 2000). Ideology and religion may also explicitly dictate or implicitly shape national research priorities: for example, there is a lack of national scholars specializing in the pre-Islamic history and archaeology of Mauritania (Ould-Khattar, personal communication).…”

Social Work in Africa

“…xviii are now recognizing the need to change (Tettey & Puplampu, 2000). Many African social workers have not had a part in the process of defining their professional and educational needs (Osei-Hwedie, 1993).…”

Social work in Africa: exploring culturally relevant education and practice in Ghana

“…The reasons behind using PAR were: 1) only Ghanaians can critically look at and decide on a culturally appropriate curriculum for themselves; 2) Ghana is a society in which consensus was and is still used in decision-making processes (Gyekye, 1996;Sackey, 2001;Sutherland-Addy, 2003). PAR uses a dialogical consensus approach to generating knowledge; 3) African universities have isolated themselves from the needs of local society but SOCIAL WORK IN AFRICA xviii are now recognizing the need to change (Tettey & Puplampu, 2000). Many African social workers have not had a part in the process of defining their professional and educational needs (Osei-Hwedie, 1993).…”