SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Researching Citizenship Education in Post-Colonial Africa

In Africa, citizenship is both difficult to conceptualize and research on. The colonial history of the continent and the subsequent post-colonial state led to a situation where the study of citizenship and citizenship education follow a methodological and philosophical conceptualization that does not reflect the realities in the continent. Based on my experience of living and studying in Africa, and my current post-graduate work in UK, I will critique the current approach to the study of citizenship and citizenship education and propose a ‘grounded’, ‘holistic’ and ‘plural’ methodology, with more consideration to both its historical development and sociopolitical context.

Ridwan Osman is a PhD Candidate at Cambridge University. He is also a citizen of Somaliland and will discuss his experience being a part of two vastly different research cultures and the impact for African researchers doing doctoral work in the UK