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Theoretical propositions and the voice of reality: Testing current assumptions of well-being in Ghana and South Africa

27 August 2019
12:30 - 14:00

Presenters:
Dr Angelina Wilson (Human Sciences Research Council, Education and Skills Development Programme, Cape Town office) and Dr Steven Gordon (Human Sciences Research Council, Democracy and Service Delivery, Durban office)

Chair:
Dr Candice Groenewald (Human Sciences Research Council, Human Social Development, Durban office)

Date: 27 August 2019
Time: 12:30 – 14:00
Venues in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town (Videoconferencing facilities: see below)

Well-being has generally been conceptualised from the perspective of functioning well (eudaimonia) and feeling good (hedonia) based on western theoretical, philosophical and epistemological stances. However, past and current research on well-being from the different African contexts have raised concerns with such restricted proposition on the varied and widely experienced construct of well-being. Using evidence from two African contexts, we unpack experiences of well-being using both qualitative and quantitative methods among a sample employed adults. We demonstrate how values systems, contexts and historical placements determine what different Ghanaian and South African groups regard as well-being. Central to the notions of well-being is the complex interaction between availability of material resources, functioning well and feeling good. Implications for health and well-being policies in sub-Saharan Africa are discussed.

Kindly RSVP by 26 August 2019

Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference Room, 1st  floor HSRC Library, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria.
Contact Arlene Grossberg  | T: (012) 302 2811  | E: acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za
Cape Town: HSRC Video Conference Room, Merchant House 116-118 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town.
Contact Shouneez Khan| T: (021) 466 7948 | E: skhan@hsrc.ac.za
Durban: HSRC Video Conference Room, The Atrium, 5th Floor, 430 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Berea, 4001.
Contact Ridhwaan Khan  | T: (031) 242 5400  | C: 083 788 2786  | E: RKhan@hsrc.ac.za  or Wiseman Mbambo |  E: wmbambo@hsrc.ac.za

The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of the DST