Since the advent of transformation in higher education, the University of the Free State (UFS) has been seeking ways to re-establish its regional and international influence.
This week the UFS officially launched the Centre for Africa Studies (CAS) at the university’s Bloemfontein campus, under the theme: “The study of Africa in the post colony.”
Discussions during the launch colloquium centred on the sustainability of and the approach to African studies in a world extremely affected by Western influences. The colloquium also focused on power and identity in post-colonial South Africa, development and culture, and issues concerning apartheid.
But the CAS’s primary concern is addressing community issues, which most of the desired research would be conducted around. The challenge, according to CAS head designate Professor Anwar Osman, is to come up with approaches and methodologies that are community oriented.
Indigenous communities across the Free State and surrounding areas have been targeted as the main beneficiaries of the project, which seeks to integrate scientific research with traditional knowledge.
Though the project is still unfolding, discussions have indicated a strong dependence on community members and custodians of culture, such as traditional healers and sangomas.
Osman indicated that most members of rural communities have problems with researchers who come to them for information without involving them in the final product. He said linking with the communities would ensure that communities become partners in research and benefit more than the centre.
He said it is imperative for the entire community to understand written material on the research, bearing in mind that some villagers have a poor understanding of research language, let alone English.
“Our main concern is language dissemination and knowledge production. You can always come up with the knowledge, but what good does it do if it’s not [understandable],” said Osman.
CAS acting head Philip Nel said the centre would focus vigorously on the traditional lifestyles of indigenous social groups, with a special focus on aspects that have not been researched.
Nel said the centre would require scientific assistance from various relevant departments within the university, thus making the project multidisciplinary. He singled out the departments of agriculture, pharmacology and chemistry as some of the departments they would work with.
“We don’t want to be centrifugal in our approach. We will not pursue the development of something that is not inclusive of everybody who participates in it,” he said.
He added that the centre has been paying special attention to African medicinal clays, an aspect of African culture he believes is yet to be researched.