Universities have been important instruments in the ‘colonial matrix of power’ (Quijano), promoting Western science, knowledge and methods as ‘universal’ and value-free (Mignolo). During this academic event, we want to scrutinise what this means and how this translates into current practices at our own universities. Together with two keynote speakers and five panel members, we reflected on colonial legacies in the production of knowledge as well as the structures and infrastructures of our universities. We discussed how we can decolonise our universities and create spaces where new ontologies, epistemologies and methodologies can emerge – not by creating new ‘universals’, but ‘pluriversals’ (Escobar). International students presented their own research on the colonial past/decolonial future of UAntwerp.
Programme
- 9.30-9.40: Welcome by Prof. Sara Geenen, University of Antwerp
- 9.40-10.00: Keynote by Prof. Aymar Nyenyezi Bisoka, University of Mons: “La philosophie africana et la tradition afrocritique face à la décolonisation des savoirs : la double discontinuité » (French with English translation)
- 10.00-10.2: Keynote by Denis Augustin Samnick, University of Antwerp: “The obstacles to academic decolonization. What is ‘decolonizable’ today and what is not?”
- 10.20-10.50: Q&A by the audience
- 10.50-11.20: Break
- 11.20-11.40: Presentation by IOB students Naomi Nabami Muheme and Valensiya Dresvyannikova: “Transformative research on colonial legacies & decolonial futures @University of Antwerp”
- 11.40-13.00: Panel discussion with Aymar Nyenyezi Bisoka (University of Mons), Denis Augustin Samnick (Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp), Tom Van Laken (Department of History, University of Antwerp), Naomi Nabami Muheme (University of Antwerp) and Valensiya Dresvyannikova (University of Antwerp)