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Flocking Together: An Indigenous Psychology Theory of Resilience in Southern Africa pp 193–220Cite as

Gathering Under the Mopani Tree: An Indigenous Psychology Theory of an Interdependent Resilience Pathway

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Abstract

This chapter situates a the relationship-resourced resilience theory, a Southern African indigenous psychology of interdependent resilience, within existing resilience knowledge. I revist all propositions by substantiating that, given the wide range of pathways to resilience known to be used during hardship, social support is a preferred pathway to resilience among interdependent, Afrocentric participants in Southern Africa. I align the theory with resilience thinking that embraces resilience as transactional ecological process and positions culture centrally in adaptive processes. I revisit Ubuntu as relevant Afrocentric world view that favours interdependence as form of kinship. I position the theory in existing knowledge on social resilience, collective resilience, relational resilience, socio-emotional competence and positive social functioning. I propose that relationship-resourced resilience supplements mainstream resilience thinking and offers an empirical perspective on how people with an interdependent world view choose to adapt to adversity that is ongoing and multifarious.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A lekgotla (in Sepedi and Setswana) is a meeting place (courtyard) for gatherings and is used often in Southern Africa to describe a business meeting or a conference.

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    Liesel Ebersöhn

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Ebersöhn, L. (2019). Gathering Under the Mopani Tree: An Indigenous Psychology Theory of an Interdependent Resilience Pathway. In: Flocking Together: An Indigenous Psychology Theory of Resilience in Southern Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16435-5_6

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