PsySSA’s 30th and PAPU’s 10th Anniversary Congress: Invited Address by Prof. Charles Mate-Kole

From Birth to Old Age: What has African Culture taught us?

Africans  ensure the continuity of its tradition  through by highlighting  the mutual care between generations. Older adults are seen to be the pride of the family; they provide guidance to younger generations and function as spiritual heads. Thus, it is expected that ageing starting from birth to old age allows the African to age healthily.

Africans view spirituality and its practices as a major source of healing. Spiritual and religious practices, such as dance, singing, and storytelling, are seen to contribute to healthy ageing. Thus, spirituality is considered a fundamental process in ageing. There is growing evidence that people in Western societies are embracing spiritual practices to promote healthy aging. This trend has given rise to the field of neurotheology, where scientists explore the connection between the brain and religion. This address will focus on spirituality and its relation to neuroscience emphasizing its role in the ageing process.

Prof Charles Mate-Kole

Charles Mate-Kole, PhD is Professor of Psychology and the Founding Director of the Centre for Ageing Studies, College of Humanities. He is Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist at the Department of Psychiatry, UG Medical School, University of Ghana. He is Professor Emeritus and Psychology Founding Director of the Centre for Africana Studies at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), New Britain, Connecticut, USA. He is the, CCSU. His research is primarily in ageing, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and neurocognitive remediation.