You are cordially invited to a Public Lecture on African Philosophies, Histories, & Practices of Science, Technology, and Engineering toward a Curriculum and Research Agenda, presented by Prof Chakanetsa Mavhunga, Professor of Science, Technology, & Society, MIT and Extraordinary Professor at AGoPA. The lecture makes a case for a communally-taught pan-continental science, technology, and innovation (STI) curriculum which examines the usable technical value of African-invented ways of seeing, thinking, knowing, and making. Through a scan of concrete examples that revisit the communal ethic (“the-all-of-us,” not “just-me-alone” ethic), it makes three initial propositions. First: to revisit our African pasts, languages, and cultures as scientific, technological, and innovation systems, to be read for “operating principles” or “the active ingredients” producing actual technological outcomes. The lecture isolates histories of African sciences and engineering of materials into value-added products with local and global value chains. Second: to understand how moments in African encounter with inbound diasporas, and outbound African diasporic encounters beyond Africa have mutually shaped Africa’s STI trajectories—the trans-oceanic slave trade and slavery, colonization of Africa (physical and mental), struggles for and against African liberation as innovation spaces. Third, recognizing the uneven and inadequate resources of African universities: to suggest a “consortium thinking” that combines capabilities across institutions (communities, disciplines, universities, vocational and polytechnic colleges, governments, industry, etc.), where one institution acting alone might fall short. In other words, the curriculum as ilima/humwe/nhimbe (communal work party), the embodiment of ubuntu/hunhu.
Title: African Philosophies, Histories, & Practices of Science, Technology, and Engineering Toward a Curriculum and Research Agenda.
Kindly RSVP for in-person attendance (for catering purposes) or online attendance (to receive a calendar invite) by 06 August 2025.
For more information, kindly contact: Ms Kagontle Selwe.