Archives - Institute of African Studies

Building Futures Through African Indigenous Knowledge

GabrielHabiyaremye — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:34:23 +0000

�Ӱ�ԭ�� researcher Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba is leading an international effort to re-centre Indigenous knowledge systems in entrepreneurship��and development��initiatives��across Africa.

Across Africa, Indigenous knowledge systems carry generations of lived experience, ecological understanding and collective wisdom.

But when it comes to development, those ways of knowing have been sidelined and marginalized in favour of imported models that place decision-making power outside the communities they are meant to serve.

A major �Ӱ�ԭ��-led international research initiative is working to change that.

From 2023 to 2026, researchers, local partners and students across Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda have been working together through��a community-based project led by��Dr. Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, assistant professor in �Ӱ�ԭ�� University’s��Institute of African Studies��and founder of the��.

Supported by the Mastercard Foundation, the “Unlocking Sustainable Solutions for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship through Indigenous Knowledge in Africa” project brings together eight research working groups examining how Indigenous knowledge systems shape youth livelihoods and entrepreneurship in areas such as agriculture, health, ecotourism, cultural entrepreneurship, climate adaptation and environmental sustainability.

At the centre of this work is the simple but powerful methodological premise that communities are not simply participants in research, but knowledge holders in their own right. For Oloruntoba, that conviction is shaped as much by his training as a critical political economist as it is by his lived experience witnessing the repeated failures of many postcolonial development programs to address basic challenges around poverty, health and employment in Africa.

“Because I was personally affected by these challenges, I felt the need to look back and ask the question: What types of knowledge existed in Africa before colonialism and how can these forms of knowledge be studied, recorded, disseminated and recentred in ways that they can be applied to solve the challenges facing the people?”

“Historically, we know that Africans have lived and achieved great things, such as building empires and kingdoms, using their own knowledge systems before the colonial intrusion.”

That vision is the heartbeat of AIKRN’s work: re-centering African Indigenous knowledge not as an artifact of history, but as a living framework for innovation, resilience and sustainable economic development.

Promoting��Knowledge Sovereignty in Africa

The project responds to a gap in what Oloruntoba calls “epistemic freedom and knowledge sovereignty.” In applied terms, that means foregrounding the knowledge, practices and lived expertise of communities whose perspectives have too often been excluded from development policy, university curricula and formal research systems. It also means having community members and holders of knowledge as co-creators of policies and programs that have direct effects on their lives.

New Book! Rethinking the ‘international’: Contextualizing Pan-Africanism as an international relations theory in a changing global (dis)order

GabrielHabiyaremye — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:37:35 +0000

Authors: Prof. ��and��

Abstract

In this paper, we ask, to what extent can Pan-Africanism constitute a valid theory of international relations? Using a qualitative methodology and a critical analytical framework, we position Pan-Africanism as an international relations theory. This paper argues that Pan-Africanism contains within it unique resources for analysis of global affairs in ways that recenter excluded voices from the Global South. The emerging possibilities of a fundamental shift from the trans-Atlantic world to that of an interlocking regional world of Afro-Euro-Asia make a strong case for the validity of Pan-Africanism as a theory of international relations.

New Book! Resource Wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo

GabrielHabiyaremye — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:26:40 +0000

Authors: Prof. Evelyn Namakula-Mayanja and Afua Boatemaa Yakohene.

Abstract

The field of International Relations (IR) has come under increasing and sustained criticism for producing and disseminating a particular reading of European history, one rooted in violence, as if it were universal knowledge. Generations of students, academics, practitioners, and policymakers have been taught and socialized into accepting this violent historical experience as the norm and, implicitly, as a reflection of human nature. As a result, the dominant accounts of IR tend to foreground competitive, conflictual, domineering, power-seeking, and exploitative behaviours as defining features of international life. This understanding of IR marginalizes and often ignores Indigenous ways of knowing that emphasize relationality, solidarity, mutual care, and cooperative forms of social organization. In this article, we argue that centring Afrocentric Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS), particularly their conceptualizations of persons in IR scholarship, has the potential to move the field beyond its bleak and violent roots towards a more humane and relational epistemology. The AIKS-centred approach to IR is better suited to capturing the nuances of contemporary global life while speaking to the lived experiences of Africans and potentially other Indigenous peoples around the world.

The Skill of Kindness

GabrielHabiyaremye — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:21:20 +0000

Please enjoy this transcript of Dr. Anne Bowker’s remarks from �Ӱ�ԭ�� University’s Spring 2026 Convocation

Dr. Anne Bowker, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.

Good morning, everyone. It is such a pleasure to be here with you today.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Dr. Anne Bowker, and I have the privilege of serving as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and as a professor of Developmental Psychology.

To the family members, friends, faculty, staff, mentors, and supporters who have helped our graduates reach this milestone, thank you. Today is a celebration of individual achievement, but it is also a celebration of community. None of us arrives at a moment like this entirely on our own.

And to the Class of 2026: Congratulations! You have worked incredibly hard to get here, and you should be so proud of what you’ve accomplished.

As I look out at you today, I find myself thinking not only about where you’re going next, but about how much you’ve changed since you first arrived at �Ӱ�ԭ��.

Four years ago, many of you arrived on campus carrying a mixture of excitement, uncertainty, ambition, and perhaps a few assumptions about how the world worked. Since then, you’ve encountered new ideas, complicated questions, unfamiliar perspectives, and people��whose experiences challenged and contrasted your own.

You have each learned a great deal in classrooms and lecture halls, libraries, studios, labs, work and field placements, community groups, and late-night conversations with friends. But education is never just about acquiring information. It is also about comprehensive personal evolution.

One of the great joys of working in a university is having the opportunity to watch students grow over time. I’ve had the honour of seeing that growth in many of you, and what strikes me most today is not simply the expertise you’ve developed through your disciplines. It’s who you’ve become.

Through your classes, experiences, and relationships at �Ӱ�ԭ��, you have become people who are better equipped to understand the world around you. And I don’t use the word��understand��lightly.

In my view, understanding is one of the most powerful skills a person can possess. It helps us make sense of a complicated world, build meaningful friendships, contribute to our communities, and become the kind of leaders people trust and want to follow. It is a skill that enriches every part of our lives, personally and professionally.

Throughout your Arts and Social Sciences education, you’ve developed that skill in ways both big and small. You’ve examined multifaceted questions from multiple perspectives, challenged your own assumptions, and learned to look beneath the surface. You’ve discovered that understanding the world around us requires curiosity and a willingness to engage with complexity.

Those habits of mind may not always provide quick answers, but they often lead to better ones.

The world you are graduating into is fast-moving and often overwhelming. Information is abundant. Opinions are everywhere. Artificial intelligence can generate answers in seconds.

Yet understanding remains as important, and as difficult, as ever. Because true understanding requires something more than information. It requires inquisitiveness, good judgment, and the willingness to see beyond our own experiences.

Whether you studied psychology, English, history, music, sociology, cognitive science, or any of the many disciplines represented here today, you have spent your time exploring the human experience and developing the capacity to understand it more deeply.

As all of you now understand, the most important challenges facing our communities are not simply technical problems waiting for technical solutions. They are human challenges. And human challenges require people who can build connections, navigate nuance, and bring people together.

In other words, they require leadership. And while leadership is often associated with authority, expertise, or visibility, the most effective leaders I have known possess something much more human. They understand people. They pay attention to context. And they recognize that meaningful progress depends on trust, and that listening is often more valuable than speaking.

And that brings me to my core point I hope you’ll remember from my remarks today.

Understanding matters. But what matters even more is what we do with that understanding.

Understanding is the foundation. Kindness is the application. Understanding allows us to see people more clearly. Kindness is what we do with that understanding.

We often talk about kindness as though it were simply a personality trait. A virtue. Something you’re either born with or not. Something admirable, perhaps, but not especially useful in a competitive world.

I see it differently. To me,��kindness��is a skill. It is the practical application of empathy and understanding. It is how we build trust, strengthen communities, and help others feel valued. And despite what we sometimes hear, these qualities are not obstacles to success. They are often the foundation of it.

The people who build strong organizations, meaningful connections, and healthy communities are rarely those who move through the world thinking only about themselves. More often, they are people who understand others, who earn trust, and who recognize that connecting and belonging matter.

Maya Angelou once observed that it takes courage to be kind. I think she was right. Kindness requires courage. It takes courage to remain curious when certainty would be easier. It takes courage to reconsider our assumptions. And it takes courage to genuinely try to understand people whose experiences differ from our own. But I believe kindness is one of the most valuable skills you can carry into the future.

Whether in your career, your relationships, or your community, kindness will help you build trust and bring people together in a world that often feels divided and uncertain, and frankly requires mending.

One of the great privileges of my career has been spending more than three decades teaching, mentoring, and learning alongside students like you.

People sometimes assume that learning flows in only one direction. That professors teach and students learn. My experience has been quite different.

What I can tell you is that year after year, students continue to challenge my assumptions, expand my perspective, and remind me that every generation brings new ideas, new energy, and new possibilities. They also remind me that kindness is far more common, and far more powerful, than we often give it credit for.

And that is one of the reasons I remain so hopeful. I have spent my career meeting the people who will shape the future. I see them sitting in front of me today.

So, as you leave �Ӱ�ԭ��, I hope you carry forward the habits of mind you’ve developed here. Continue asking thoughtful questions. Continue seeking understanding before rushing toward simple answers.

But most importantly, please continue practicing your acquired and highly dynamic and refined skill of kindness. Not because it is easy, and not because it is expected, but because it is powerful if practiced consistently and with intention.

Thank you for choosing �Ӱ�ԭ�� and for enriching our Faculty with your intelligence, creativity, generosity, and of course, your skill of kindness.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. We are so proud of you and cannot wait to see where your talents take you next.

African Cinema, Memory, and the Work of Preservation

GabrielHabiyaremye — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:09:12 +0000

For��Dr. Aboubakar Sanogo,��cinema is an archive of humanity that shapes how people, cultures, and nations understand themselves.

His research interests include African and Afro-diasporic cinemas, documentary film theory, history and form, transnational and world cinemas, film preservation and restoration, colonial cinema, early and silent cinema, and film festival studies.

Much of African cinema’s history remains unknown or undocumented, and the films most often studied today are
those screened at festivals, distributed internationally, or circulated beyond their countries of origin.

“There’s an immense ocean of films that never circulated and never left their own country, that were never seen beyond maybe one or two screenings. Some were never screened at all.”

“That must be accounted for properly in order to be able to really have a grasp of the further longevity of African
film history, the complexity of African history, and the interrelationship between different national contexts,” says
Sanogo.

Recovering and preserving this unseen history has become the driving force of Sanogo’s work over the past decade.
That commitment led to the��(AFHP), the initiative for which he is now internationally
known.

He says the AFHP was created in large part for African filmmakers and the larger African film community. Sanogo says many legacy creators in African cinema are insufficiently known in Africa itself. His hope is that African
filmmakers can be inspired by creative projects in their own neighbourhood.

“In other words,” Sanogo describes, “we have not yet succeeded in vanquishing the coloniality of film distribution
and exhibition.”

Across Africa, the preservation of cinematic heritage is undermined by a convergence of structural, financial, and political obstacles. Many countries lack dedicated film archives, stable funding for cinema, and adequate restoration facilities, placing existing collections at constant risk.

Dr. Aboubakar Sanogo with Martin Scorsese (The Film Foundation) and Irina Bokova (UNESCO) at the signing of the African Film Heritage Project partnership agreement in 2017.

“Our projection is thus one of repatriating the African cinematic heritage in view of its reappropriation toward the creation of other African new waves, new movements, and bold cinematic and audiovisual experiments,” says Sanogo.

The AFHP also strives to expand the domain of cinema to include newsreels, documentaries, experimental and avant-garde works, short films, and even raw footage, so long as the material in question embodies important historical, cultural, and artistic elements.

Sanogo says the AFHP grew out of his role as North American Regional Secretary of the Pan-African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), Africa’s leading filmmakers’ organization that was founded in 1970.

Through this, he launched the FEPACI Archival Project, an initiative devoted to the memory, preservation, and historiography of African cinema from each of the six regions of Africa: West Africa, North Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, and the African diaspora.
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Scarborough Charter Forum Brings Leaders Together in Ottawa to Advance Black Flourishing

GabrielHabiyaremye — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:15:50 +0000

Ottawa welcomed more than 200 senior leaders, scholars, students and community partners on May 14 and 15 for the third Inter‑Institutional Forum of the Scarborough Charter on Anti‑Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education.

Hosted by the��, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University and the University of Ottawa, the forum drew representatives from post‑secondary institutions, student associations and community groups working to advance Black inclusion across the sector. This year’s event marked the forum’s largest signatory member representation to date with delegates participating from 43 of the 63 Charter members and nine additional non‑member institutions. The strong participation emphasized the sector’s ongoing commitment to Black excellence in higher education.

Awad Ibrahim Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, University of Ottawa, Marie-Eve Sylvestre President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ottawa, Wisdom Tettey President and Vice-Chancellor, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University and Noël Badiou
Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusive Communities, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University

Centred on the theme “Advancing Black Excellence and Opportunities in Challenging Times,” the two‑day gathering examined how institutions can strengthen Black access, participation and leadership amid shifting political and economic pressures.

Day One at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University

The opening day began with a performance by the West African Rhythm Ensemble. �Ӱ�ԭ�� president Wisdom Tettey acknowledged the pressures facing universities and urged leaders to maintain their commitments.

“We cannot allow challenging times to weaken our resolve,” he said. “Our responsibility is to ensure that Black inclusion and flourishing remain central to the mission of higher education.”

Keynote speaker Liban Abokor, founder and CEO of Reimagine LABS, outlined the political, social and economic forces reshaping equity work and challenged institutions to consider what meaningful adaptation requires.

A panel on intentional Black inclusion brought together scholars from journalism, architecture and African Studies who emphasized that representation, spatial justice and knowledge production shape Black experiences on campus and argued that inclusion must be embedded in institutional culture rather than treated symbolically.

A presidents’ panel later in the day highlighted the role of senior leadership in sustaining equity commitments, pointing to governance, accountability and resource allocation as essential components.

�Ӱ�ԭ��’s Associate Vice‑President, Equity and Inclusive Communities Noël Badiou closed the day by highlighting solidarity and measurable action.

“Progress requires bold leadership, intentional investment, expanded opportunity and measurable accountability, all undertaken in genuine solidarity with Black communities whose experiences and expertise must guide institutional action,” he said.

Day Two at the University of Ottawa

University of Ottawa president Marie‑Eve Sylvestre opened the second day by emphasizing the importance of linguistic diversity in equity initiatives. A panel examined how bilingual and Francophone institutions can integrate linguistic realities into their approaches to Black inclusion.
Keynote speaker Malinda Smith spoke about the role of disaggregated data and data justice in tracking progress, arguing that institutions cannot dismantle systemic barriers without robust and meaningful data.
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�Ӱ�ԭ�� Students Among Recipients of National Pathy Foundation Fellowship

GabrielHabiyaremye — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:54:52 +0000

Two students in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies program at �Ӱ�ԭ�� have been selected as . Kiara Gibbs-Cawker and Madina Mashkoori will join the 11th cohort of this national fellowship, which supports young leaders in developing community-based initiatives across Canada.

Open to university students nation-wide, the��provides a $50,000 living and initiative stipend, enabling fellows to dedicate their first year after studies to a community and cause they are passionate about. Fellows test and develop skills in their respective fields while benefiting from a rich support network of driven peers, skilled facilitators and experienced practitioners. Learn more about �Ӱ�ԭ��’s 2026-27 fellows:

Kiara Gibbs-Cawker

Program:��Bachelors of Global and International Studies – Specialization in Globalization

Initiative:��She Leads: Elevating Black Women’s Voice

Kiara will establish a leadership and mentorship program aimed at empowering young Black women in Toronto through identity-centered workshops, professional development and community building to strengthen future leaders. This initiative grew out of Kiara’s own experiences navigating limited access to mentorship, underrepresentation and spaces not built for Black women, which shaped her commitment to creating affirming, community-driven spaces.

“Through my studies in Global and International Development and Anthropology, I developed a deeper understanding of systemic barriers and their real-world impacts. At the same time, my leadership roles in EDI programming enabled me to address those challenges by creating spaces that fostered belonging, dialogue and empowerment. These experiences showed me the importance of community-led work and strengthened my ability to lead and collaborate. This moment feels like a natural continuation of that journey, where I can combine my academic learning, lived experience and community work to create something meaningful and sustainable.”

Madina Mashkoori

Program:��Global and International Studies – Global Politics Honours

Initiative:��Empowering Youth Through Capacity Building

Madina will dedicate her fellowship year to supporting newcomer and vulnerable youth in Ottawa through leadership development, mentorship and civic engagement. Her initiative combines capacity-building workshops, a resource navigation hub and a youth-led train-the-trainer model to build a sustainable leadership pipeline. Through ongoing work with newcomer and vulnerable populations, Madina has witnessed the limitations of existing programs firsthand, which inspired her to design this initiative. Rooted in trusted community spaces, the program addresses gaps in access to opportunities, mentorship, and resources and engages youth as active members of their community.

“My studies in Global and International Studies have shaped my understanding of inequality, governance and community-based approaches to change,” she says. “Through academic work and community involvement, I became interested in how broader structural issues affect local communities. This led me to focus on initiatives that address gaps at the community level, making this project a continuation of both my academic and practical experiences.”

What does it mean for Africa to define the terms on which it engages a global order being remade in real time?

GabrielHabiyaremye — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:04:10 +0000

Academics and policymakers addressed this question, among others, at the flagship Umeme Series roundtable, jointly hosted by the Institute of African Studies (IAS) and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University in Ottawa on March 18, 2026. With global trade regimes redrawn and geopolitical alliances shifting with remarkable speed, the discussion asked whether Africa will help define the terms of the emerging order or merely be subject to them.

Leading the conversation were Dr. Firoze Manji (Publisher, Daraja Press), Dr Joseph Atta-Mensah (Former Principal Policy Advisor, UN Economic Commission for Africa), Professor Yiagadeesen (Teddy) Samy (Director, NPSIA, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University), and Professor Nduka Otiono (Director, IAS, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University), whose reflections and candid exchange pushed the conversation beyond easy optimism. The intellectuals examined Africa’s strategic leverage, her vast underutilised resources, the promise and limits of regional integration, and the reforms needed to turn a moment of global disruption into one of continental advantage.

Read the full communiqué below and watch the full recording here:

��Roundtable Discussion on Africa’s Future Amid Ongoing Geopolitical and Global Trade Realignment��

#Africa #Geopolitics #GlobalTrade #AfCFTA #UmemeSeries #�Ӱ�ԭ��University #IAS #NPSIA

�Ӱ�ԭ��-Led Hub Expands Support for Black Entrepreneurs

GabrielHabiyaremye — Wed, 20 May 2026 15:56:09 +0000

�Ӱ�ԭ�� University welcomes the��for the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) through March 2028, reinforcing the university’s leadership role in advancing research, collaboration and community engagement to strengthen Black entrepreneurship across Canada.

Supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), the funding renewal of up to $4.5M was announced at the��2026 Inter-Institutional Forum of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education. The renewed investment marks the next phase of a nationally significant initiative dedicated to expanding Canada’s Black entrepreneurial ecosystem through research, data and practical solutions.

The��Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub��representatives and distinguished guests��(left to right):��Executive Director��John Nelson, MP Yasir Naqvi, MP Tatiana Auguste, President��Wisdom Tettey, VP Rafik Goubran, AVP Prosenjit Bose, Academic Director Gerald Grant, and MP Greg Fergus.

Since its launch, BEKH has played a central role in building a stronger understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Black entrepreneurs in Canada, and realized many successes including the creation of a national data repository on Black entrepreneurship. The next phase, known as BEKH 2.0, will build on this foundation focusing on expanding its research, partnerships and community engagement.

“As an institution committed to mutual flourishing and inclusive impact, �Ӱ�ԭ�� is delighted with the renewal of this partnership with ISED, which will enable us to continue the very important work that the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub is leading,” said President Tettey.

“With this support, BEKH will deepen and expand its anchor role as the go-to source for robust and credible data, a trusted repository of relevant knowledge, and a catalyst for data-informed collaboration and innovation that will enhance Black entrepreneurship, grow Black businesses, and strengthen the Canadian economy for the benefit of all Canadians.”

Shireen Hassim receives Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award

GabrielHabiyaremye — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:25:43 +0000

Five �Ӱ�ԭ�� University professors were recognized with a Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award during a ceremony held on campus on April 7, 2026.

Graduate students from across all disciplines submitted nomination letters in support of their supervisors, highlighting the meaningful impact these faculty members have had on their academic journeys as well as their personal development.

This award recognizes professors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to graduate education through their roles as supervisors and research mentors. Sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) and Graduate Studies, the award underscores the significant and lasting influence that strong mentorship can have on graduate student success.

�Ӱ�ԭ�� University Professors Sana Mohsni, Sreeraman Rajan, Mostafa Taha, Shireen Hassim and Christine Koggel are the 2025-2026 recipients of a Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award.

This Year’s Recipients

Below are the recipients (in alphabetical order), along with selected excerpts from their students’ nomination letters:

Shireen Hassim, Canada Research Chair in Gender and African Politics

“Shireen advises and guides with integrity and consistency. Her expectations are clear, her commitments unwavering, and her support steadfast. In a system where graduate students often feel invisible or expendable, Shireen’s mentorship communicates something profoundly different: that our ideas matter, our struggles are legitimate, and our growth is worth sustained investment.”

“Throughout my time working with her, Prof. Hassim has shown me, in countless ways, what it means to be an exceptional mentor. Her guidance is always detailed and thoughtful, tailored to my challenges and questions, and she continually fosters a supportive environment that makes me feel truly seen and valued. Her belief in me has made a real difference in my journey.”

“Prof. Hassim’s sponsorship of my participation in the doctoral workshop at Makerere University (gave me) the opportunity to workshop my doctoral research with senior scholars and doctoral colleagues, receive detailed, constructive feedback and, most importantly, build lasting professional networks with doctoral colleagues (who have) become an important part of my academic and professional development.”