Gender, Protests and Political Change in Africa - Book Launch

Dr Awino Okech (SOAS)

About this Event

In this webinar, Dr Awino Okech will discuss her latest edited book with some of the book contributors.

Gender, Protests and Political Change in Africa brings together conceptual debates on the nature of state-building, youth, and gender in Africa. It offers contemporary and interdisciplinary analyses on the role of protests as an alternative route for citizens to challenge the ballot box as the only legitimate means of ensuring freedom. Drawing on case studies from seven African countries, the contributors draw on specific political moments in their respective countries to offer insights into how the state/society social contract is contested through informal channels, and how political power functions to counteract citizen’s voices. The book provides a basis for organizers and social movements to consider how to build solidarity beyond influencing government institutions.

Chair: Dr Olivia Lwabukuna (SOAS) is a Tanzanian lawyer and advocate of the High Court of Tanzania. She obtained a Doctor of Laws from the University of Pretoria, where she is currently an Extra-Ordinary Lecturer. Olivia is currently a lecturer in the department of Law, SOAS, University of London where she teaches on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules related to Public International Law, Legal Systems of Asia and Africa and Law and Development in Africa. She is also an associate editor of the Journal of African Law (Cambridge).

Roundtable

Dr Awino Okech (SOAS) teaching and research interests lie in the nexus between gender, sexuality, security and nation/state making projects as they occur in conflict and post-conflict societies. Prior to her appointment at the Centre for Gender Studies at SOAS, she worked in the development sector across various sub-regions in Africa for over decade, supporting women rights organisations and local movements in building local capacities for peace. At CGS she convenes a range of postgraduate modules including Dissertation Methods for Gender Studies, African Feminism/s: Theories, Politics and Action and Gender and Security in Africa.

Felogene Anumo is a feminist activist with experience in advancing gender and economic justice through activism, advocacy, research and capacity strengthening of feminist-led organising. Her roots in feminist movement building were planted at the University of Nairobi where she served as the Women Students’ Chairperson across seven campuses. Felogene currently works for the Association of Women’s Rights and Development (AWID) as co-lead for the Building Feminist Economies (BFE) Program.

Sarah O. Nugdalla is a gender consultant and researcher from Sudan. She holds an MA in Gender Studies from SOAS University of London and a BA in International Relations from the American University of Sharjah. Nugdalla’s research interests are grounded in the relationship between gender, Islam and the state, and has written extensively on gendered citizenship and feminist activism in Sudan.

Princess Mpelo Malebye is a feminist from South Africa. She has a Masters in Gender Studies and Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Princess is currently a research and policy analyst for the Commission for Gender Equality, South Africa.

Awuor Onyango is a Nairobi-based writer and multidisciplinary artist somewhat trained in English and French laws, Fine Art and Film. Her practice is concerned with claiming public space disallowed to people considered black, woman and other, whether the space is intellectual, physical, in memory or historical. She’s uses (digital & video) installation, experimental film and self-care to explore the transgression, shame and discomfort of the black feminine.

Registration

The online event is on Zoom. If you would like to attend the event please register. Online registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Contact email: cas@soas.ac.uk