Indigenous epistemologies and archives in researching Africa
As students of African studies hoping to become future Africanist, there were lots of theories and methodologies we acquired in our seminars. African studies today is not of the same nature as the past. This requires us to be self-aware of our power, our positionality and biases when studying a continent from a
The role of media in crisis thinking : the case study of Marrakech earthquake.
Help us we are dying in silence This is an example of crisis thinking in natural disasters. This quote was taken from a French newspaper called “libération”, but the actual words of the woman featured on the front page of the newspaper after the disaster in Morocco have been manipulated. the
“Justice and Happiness to African People” – The Wagner Group’s Involvement in African Security
The private military company Wagner Group has gained significant popularity in Africa due to its involvement in local conflicts, which raises questions about the agency of sovereign states during times of crisis. “Making Russia greater on all continents and bringing justice and happiness to African people”
Decolonizing my research?
It has become a popular claim that the British Museum would be empty if they were to return all the stolen objects in their collection. This joke is something that has become much more prevalent in the last couple of years or so and it indicates a social need from the public for museums to […]
The crisis of the EU
We have all hear about the refugee/migration crisis. It is also not difficult to imagine the images that are associated with this crisis. Overfilled boats of people crossing the Mediterraan sea like the one below will not be anything new to most people.
The legacy of colonialism in Marine conservation
Reflecting upon the need for decolonization of marine conservation in Africa by Laura Eppinga, November 2023, Essay written for the course Researching Africa in the 21st Century, African Studies, Leiden University. Introduction Sometimes I question my life choices, wanting to go into the field of African mari
Understanding Duress in Prolonged Conflicts: The Case of Casamance
Living in an area that has been a victim of a prolonged and violent conflict has a great impact on the people who originate from these areas or who are still living there. Enduring such hardships for years or perhaps even generations can have a significant impact on the lives, ways of thinking and even [&hellip
Researching west Africa in the 21st century
In this essay, I will examine the themes of the course researching Africa in the 21st century in relation to my dissertation topic of ‘anti-French sentiment’ in West Africa. Firstly, I will analyze the impact of globalization, digitalization, and social media. Social media have become the main platf
Africa, the 21st Century, and Beyond
Africa has – for all its history – found itself in a unique situation compared to the rest of the world. Despite numerous centuries of oppression and destructive exploitation, it has always bounced back to celebrate its richness and tenacity. Considering the demographic catastrophe that was the sla
Decolonisation in health care
Introduction This paper deals with various topics that are important in conducting research in and about Africa in the context of health. In this paper, I will discuss what debate is going on about decolonization in health care in which it becomes clear how colonial power relations still apply in the distributi