Africa, Gifted Education

In most, if not all, of the developing countries of Africa, primary education for all children has yet to be achieved. Moreover, the Western concept of individualistic accomplishment and progress is inappropriate when considering the concept of “giftedness” in the developing countries of Africa. The African concept of “a person” is closely bound up with the concept of “community” where individuals express “gifts” through group activity. The powerful African concept of ubuntu, meaning “humanity,” binds the group together in common effort. This is profoundly evident in the community focus on collective celebration, dance, music, and song, which is acknowledged worldwide. Hence, even in South Africa, which is developing very productively, there is generally great reluctance to discuss giftedness, which is often perceived as elitist and ...