Since the 1960s, social work in Africa has endeavoured to decolonise itself, yet colonial methodologies are still dominant in teaching, learning, practice, and research within the field. Recently, a Master of Social Work student in Zimbabwe asked me during a guest lecture “Why are we not being taught indigenous methods and decolonising practices, why is there more rhetoric and less action?” This question reflects a growing awareness among learners that the dominant frameworks being taught are ill-suited for the African context. But why has this continued more than a century since colonial social work was introduced to the continent? What has been the impact? What has been done and needs to be done? In this presentation, I will trace the history of social services and social work in Africa, including the developmental phase which we are in now. Central to my discussion is the philosophy of Ubuntu, which embodies African values and offers a profound contribution to global knowledges.