TRADITIONAL BELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIGENOUS SOCIAL WORK PRACTICES

Abstract

This study examines the role of the traditional belief system in development:implications for indigenous social work practices. It adopted an exploratory research methodand reviewed secondary data. The study holds that cculture is essential for sustainabledevelopment and that development must align with local culture to be effective.Development can assume different forms and patterns but the success of any societaldevelopment is linked to how well it is people-centred. That is if the development isparticipatory in nature. It was discovered that any developments that run contrary to theculture of the people will most likely fail because the people are not carried along in thedevelopmental process. It is therefore recommended that development should consider thepractical reality of some people by making the process participatory. Social workers shouldincorporate measures that are culture-bound and seek to discover uniqueness in localIndigenous ways within specific communities.