Cultural practices have the potential to cause human suffering. The Tensions between Culture and Human Rights critically interrogates the relationship between culture and human rights across Africa and offers strategies for pedagogy and practice that social workers and educators may use.Drawing on Afrocentricity and emancipatory social work as antidotes to colonial power and dehumanization, this collection challenges cultural practices that violate human rights, and the dichotomous and taken-for-granted assumptions in the cultural representations between the West and the Rest of the world. Engaging critically with cultural traditions while affirming Indigenous knowledge and practices, it is unafraid to deal frankly with uncomfortable truths. Each chapter explores a specific aspect of African cultural norms and practices and their impacts on human rights and human dignity, paying special attention to the intersections of politics, economics, race, class, gender, and cultural expression. Going beyond analysis, this collection offers a range of practical approaches to understanding and intervention rooted in emancipatory social work. It offers a pathway to develop critical reflexivity and to reframe epistemologies for education and practice. This is essential reading not only for students and practitioners of social work, but for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of African cultures and practices.

Participation is a key community work method and this text critically engages with its theoretical and conceptual underpinnings before drawing on international examples and perspectives. Including real-life case studies of participatory practice, this book will challenge and inspire all those involved in community work practice and research. Divided into four parts, it begins by exploring theoretical aspects of participation and the co-construction of knowledge, including the ethics of participation. The second part focuses on the potential of participatory learning and action research, with a chapter presenting key techniques followed by case studies. The third part looks at power and participation, addressing issues of inclusivity, capacity and democracy-building and giving examples from a range of research and field projects. Finally, the fourth part begins the discussion of new and emerging challenges for community work globally. This unique book is suitable for students, researchers and practitioners interested in participation and community development from a range of disciplines, including community work itself through social work and youth work to health promotion.

Participation is a key community work method and this text, written by an international selection of authors, covers innovative approaches in community based education and practice. Including real-life case studies of participatory practice, it offers new definitions of community work, organisation and development and will challenge and inspire all those involved in community work practice and research. Divided into four parts, Participation in Community Work begins by exploring theoretical aspects of participation and the co-construction of knowledge, including the ethics of participation. The second part focuses on the potential of participatory learning and action research, with chapters presenting key techniques followed by case studies. The third part looks at power and participation, addressing issues of inclusivity, capacity and democracy-building and giving examples from a range of research and field projects. Finally, the fourth part begins the discussion of new and emerging challenges for community work globally. This unique book is suitable for students, researchers and practitioners interested in participation and community development from a range of disciplines, including community work itself through social work and youth work to health promotion.

Cultural practices have the potential to cause human suffering. The Tension Between Culture and Human Rights critically interrogates the relationship between culture and human rights across Africa and offers strategies for pedagogy and practice that social workers and educators may use.Drawing on Afrocentricity and emancipatory social work as antidotes to colonial power and dehumanization, this collection challenges cultural practices that violate human rights, and the dichotomous and taken-for-granted assumptions in the cultural representations between the West and the Rest of the world. Engaging critically with cultural traditions while affirming Indigenous knowledge and practices, it is unafraid to deal frankly with uncomfortable truths. Each chapter explores a specific aspect of African cultural norms and practices and their impacts on human rights and human dignity, paying special attention to the intersections of politics, economics, race, class, gender, and cultural expression. Going beyond analysis, this collection offers a range of practical approaches to understanding and intervention rooted in emancipatory social work. It offers a pathway to develop critical reflexivity and to reframe epistemologies for education and practice. This is essential reading not only for students and practitioners of social work, but for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of African cultures and practices.