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Dr Munyaradzi Mushonga appointed to lead global network on decoloniality

28 June 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)

Dr Munyaradzi Mushonga of the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies (CGAS) at the University of the Free State (UFS) has been appointed Global Academic Director of the Decolonial International Network (DIN). Dr Mushonga, who is a senior lecturer and programme director of CGAS’s Africa Studies programme, says his vision for DIN is “to work towards a new world civilisation that is opposed to the militarism and war, lawlessness and genocides of other civilisations.”

Dr Mushonga, who is a leading voice and scholar on decolonialisation, will formally assume his role at DIN in 2023.

The duality of new technology and scholarly work

Dr Mushonga says it is important for our minds to be decolonised, and he is therefore planning to establish a Centre for Decolonising The Mind (CDTM), which will use 21st-century technologies to achieve the ideal of decolonialisation. “Here pluriversal decolonial chapters and centres will be driven towards developing a decolonial history app,” he says. The aim is also to work towards a decolonial textbook on the history of Africa.

He says it is commendable to employ technology to address decolonisation, but the real work to achieve the ideal of a decolonial mind lies in the scholarly work done by academics. At the CGAS the entire Africa Studies programme addresses decolonial theory and praxis through several approaches. “These are informed by our identity, which is anchored on two pillars, namely the interdisciplinary nature of all our engagements, as well as the exploration and critique of what it means to be ‘human’, but also in relation to the ‘non-human’ world.” He adds that the Centre’s teaching, supervision, and engagement with its students also challenges academics to think beyond the binaries of ‘coloniser’ and ‘colonised’, ‘white’ and ‘black’, and to reject all forms of fundamentalism.

UFS’s commitment to decoloniality is a great asset

Dr Mushonga's tenure at DIN will also reinforce the commitment to decolonial education made by the UFS, which has been noted by DIN. “I am convinced that DIN, the CGAS and the UFS can become the great vehicles to drive the decolonial agenda from the global South in general, and South Africa in particular,” he says. He says the commitment to the ideals of decolonisation displayed by UFS and the CGAS played a large part in his appointment to his new DIN role.

The CGAS and the UFS will become key players in the DIN project, and Dr Mushonga hopes that more individuals and groups will come forward to join forces with DIN. “I hope this will enable DIN to push for new ethics in living.”

News Archive

Shimlas had the right attitude, says Scholtz

2016-02-10

The lively Shimla flanker Daniel Maartens, who was the leading try scorer in the 2015 Varsity Cup, made a good impact as substitute against Ikeys in Cape Town.
Photo: Johan Roux

His rugby team had the right attitude to win in difficult conditions in Cape Town.

This is what Hendro Scholtz, Head Coach of Shimlas, had to say after the University of the Free State (UFS) started its Varsity Cup campaign on 8 February 2016 with a victory of 23-17 over Ikeys.

According to him, the UFS had to sweat hard until the end on a windy Green Mile, which has been the downfall of many opponents before. His substitutes also had a great impact.

Troublesome Cape wind

Shimlas have a tough draw this year, and to start in the Mother City was a huge task. Scholtz and his men have only three home matches and will play against most of the major teams in away matches.

“We knew it would be difficult in Cape Town. With the wind blowing as it does, one can't play as you would like to during the rest of the season,” the coach said.

“The guys had a will to win.”

The former Springbok believes that too much cannot be read from the first round results. The Shimlas will play their second match on 15 February 2016 against Tuks in Pretoria.

Replacements with good impact

Only the prop Rudolph Botha, flanker Fiffy Rampeta, and prop Teunis Nieuwoudt, who started against Ikeys, were involved in the 2015 final against Pukke.

Other big Shimla names, such as the prop Ox Nche, hooker Elandré Huggett, prop Conraad van Vuuren, and flanker Daniel Maartens, were sent onto the field in Cape Town after half-time.

“We had a plan with the replacements for the second half. They made a huge difference,” Scholtz said.

Rampeta was named Man of the Match, but it was Maartens and Co who turned the game in their team's favour in the second half.

Matsoele could be out of action for long

The Shimla fullback, Sechaba Matsoele, had to leave the game against Ikeys early because of a knee injury, and could be out of action for some time.

His scrumhalf, Zee Mkhabela, was also injured (by a blow to the head), so Shimlas will have to keep their fingers crossed for his quick recovery.

Scorers:
Shimlas 23 (7): Tries: Arthur Williams, Nardus Erasmus, Mosolwa Mafuma. Conversions: Stephan Janse van Rensburg (2).
Ikeys 17 (0): Tries: Khanyo Ngcukana, Nathan Nel. Conversion: Hilio de Abreu. Penalty: De Abreu.
Other results (home team first): Tuks 15, Pukke 38; UJ 19, Madibaz 12; Maties 40, CUT 0.

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