Research & Activism | Afrikanists Assemble | Episode 7

In each episode of Afrikanists Assemble, people from various academic backgrounds answer a question related to the field of Afrikanistik and African Studies. We post a new episode the first day of every month!

This month’s question is: “From your academic background, do you see any overlap (or potential overlap) between research and activism? If so, where is it? If not, why?”

Let us know how you would answer in the comments!

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro; “free Sénégal” by Fazaho

00:50 Personal reflection: How much space is there for activism in academia? - Monika C. Rohmer

03:23 Bringing research back into the researched communities - Kole Odutola

06:12 Activism as a responsibility hindered by structural dependencies - Janna Perbix

07:47 Activism not as a choice but a necessity - Oladapo O. Ajayi

11:50 Reading literature to bring about social change; Are we just complying with a system of fashionable neoliberal activism? - Clarissa Vierke

18:22 African literature as intrinsically activist - Dikko Muhammad

20:19 Research inspires and serves young activists - Jacky Kosgei

21:19 Seeking impartiality in the footsteps of Marx and Engels - Emiliano Minerba

23:13 Activism as a means to broaden the reach of research - Emmanuella Bih

26:04 Research as a problem-solver and means for social change - Christopher Odhiambo Joseph

28:05 Writers as activists - Manta G. Yadok

30:07 End Credits; “free Sénégal” by Fazaho

EPISODE 7 CONTRIBUTORS:

Monika C. Rohmer - University of Bayreuth
Kole Odutola - University of Florida
Janna Perbix - University of Cologne
Oladapo O. Ajayi - University of Bayreuth
Clarissa Vierke - University of Bayreuth
Dikko Muhammad - University of Bayreuth
Jacky Kosgei - University of the Witswatersrand
Emiliano Minerba - University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’ / University of Bayreuth
Emmanuella Bih - University of Cologne
Christopher Odhiambo Joseph - Moi University
Manta G. Yadok - University of Wukari

EPISODE 7 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:

Production & Editing: Brady Blackburn & Berenike Eichhorn
Design: Kaitlyn Blackburn
Intro Animation: G3 Designs, Nigeria
Sound Effects: ZapSplat.com
Music: “free Sénégal”; Written and performed by Fazaho; Courtesy of Fazaho

BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR:
Want to share your thoughts on the podcast as well? Contact us at afrikanists.assemble@gmail.com and tell us why you want to become a contributor!

BECOME A FEATURED ARTIST:
We feature a song from a different independent African artist every episode. If you’d like your song to be featured, email us at afrikanists.assemble@gmail.com. Note that you must own the rights to your song and be able to license it to us for use in an episode.

ABOUT AFRIKANISTS ASSEMBLE:
Afrikanists Assemble is produced by Recalibrating Afrikanistik, a collaborative research project of six partnering universities in Europe and Africa funded by the VW Foundation. Afrikanistik as the study of African languages, literatures, and texts is in a privileged position to mediate heterotopic and heterogeneous knowledge practices. Through joint forums, summer schools, workshops, a fellowship program, and more, we invite young scholars to recalibrate Afrikanistik with their innovative ideas in dialogue with African Studies. Visit our website at https://www.recaf.de/