History of Industrial and Organizational Psychology in Africa

The history and practice of industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology in Africa is as diverse as the history and multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual population of the continent itself. With the rising economic growth experienced in many parts of Africa, realizing the potential of the continent’s human resources is becoming increasingly important, and as such, I-O psychology has a critical role to play in furthering the continent’s development. However, the discipline of I-O psychology is fairly new or relatively unheard of in the majority of countries and faces a number of challenges, one of which is a growing debate regarding Western or Eurocentric versus Afrocentric paradigms. Continuous research and discourse—growing the scientific evidence base supporting practices in Africa—is necessary to support the continent’s ongoing growth and ...