Infusing the Africentric Framework

Abstract

This chapter explores the Africentric framework, a culturally centred approach to understanding the experiences of African and African diasporic individuals. Guided by Ubuntu, an African worldview that emphasizes cooperation, connectedness, and consciousness, the Africentric framework offers a holistic understanding of mental health care that prioritizes collective responsibility, social competency, and community support. To illustrate the model’s application a narrative example is provided, detailing the restorative journey of an individual seeking healing and restoration. The chapter outlines the co-constructed approach between the wisdom seeker and wisdom keeper, highlighting the importance of cultural responsiveness, spirituality, and empowerment. The authors discuss implications for wisdom keepers working with Black Canadians, emphasizing the need to recognize collectivist strengths, respect cultural identities, and attend to power dynamics and social justice. By promoting a paradigm shift towards culturally appropriate care, the Africentric model offers a framework for facilitating Black cultural transitions and empowerment across the diaspora.

Citation

Dixon, S., Sibanda, N., Sekandi, M., & Salami, B. (2025). Infusing the Africentric framework in mental health care for Black Canadians. In S. Collins and M. Jay (Eds.), Decolonizing health, healing, and care: Embodying culturally responsive and socially just counselling (Chapter 6.3). Counselling Concepts. https://doi.org/10.71446/di74924873