Embracing Ubuntu : cultivating inclusive information access in decolonising African information curriculum

Abstract

Decolonising the information curriculum through the process of indigenization is a crucial process that advocates fora paradigm shift towards the integration of various political ideologies and knowledge systems in order to correct the marginalisation and exclusion that have been sustained by colonial legacies. The Ubuntu ideology offers a foundation for promoting an inclusive, people-centered approach to curriculum development because it places an emphasis on communal values and connection. Educators can establish learning environments that support empathy, inclusivity, and cooperation while reflecting and accommodating the needs and experiences of every student by emulating the values of Ubuntu. By appreciating students' cultural origins in the information sciences, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy enhances academic engagement and equips students for a diverse global information landscape, which further supports these efforts. Collectively, these strategies seek to foster an information society that is more socially just and equitable, which is consistent with the overarching objective of guaranteeing inclusivity and fairness in education.