Mfundo Mandla Masuku is an Associate Professor of Development Studies and Head of Research and Higher Degrees in the School of Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He serves extensively on college and university committees. He specializes in the intersection of African philosophy and food security. Part of his substantive research explores the Ubuntu philosophy and its application in contemporary community-driven projects to provide essential services. In the process, it critically challenges Western paradigms with African indigenous knowledge systems.