The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has embarked on a groundbreaking three-year project titled “Media Decolonization Imaginary” in collaboration with Bournemouth University and the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange. The project, slated to run from 2024 to 2026, kicked off with its inaugural section, combining in-person and virtual components, in January.
The inaugural sessions, facilitated by collaborators, delved into the theme of “Tracking Africa’s Journey on Decolonization.” This exploration sought to uncover the intersections between decolonisation, intersectionality, globalisation, cosmopolitanism, neo-colonialism, transnationalism, and (re)appropriation.
The project’s second day focused on comprehending the intersectional nature of African identities in decolonized contexts. Postcolonial scholarship advocates for ethical accountability, particularly in apprehending dominant Western knowledge systems during transnational collaborations between the West and the so-called Global South.
The event featured notable speakers, including award-winning British filmmaker Fiona Lamptey, Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Uganda; Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, historian at KNUST; Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi; Prof. Oluyinka Esan from Caleb University, Nigeria; and Dumi Sanda from the BBC. The project is coordinated by Dr. Samantha Iwowo and Dr. Szilvia Ruszev of Bournemouth University, Prof. Charles Marfo, Dr. Fortune Tella from KNUST, and Dr. Teju Kareem from WSICU.
Centered on Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, the project aims to develop a theoretical framework for rethinking current decolonization practices in media, closely linking this with educational practice and media production. The initiative intends to advance new and inclusive methodologies for decolonizing media research, considering the evolving concept of media and its impact on global capitalism.