Buhle Bam
A copy of Academic Xenophobia: African Scholars in South African Universities. The book started as “a series of comments and anecdotes from African academics”, said Jonathan Jansen, distinguished professor of education. PHOTO: Buhle Bam
More people should be aware of academic xenophobia, a term crystallised in a new book on the topic.
This is according to Jonathan Jansen, distinguished professor of education at Stellenbosch University (SU), at the launch of the book Academic Xenophobia: African Scholars in South African Universities on 12 March.
Xenophobia does not only occur in townships like Soweto, said Jansen. “[It] takes on a different form within our public higher [education] institutions.”
The book draws on the contributions made by 52 participants, who are affiliated with 26 institutions of higher learning in South Africa, said Dr Zethu Mkhize, the director of the Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation at SU.
Xenophobia at institutions of higher education remains largely unrecognised, said Dr Precious Simba, researcher at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Education and co-author of Academic Xenophobia: African Scholars in South African Universities.
As a Zimbabwean academic who had experienced academic xenophobia before, Simba was a good fit for the project, alongside the late Dr Cyril Walters, who passed away in late 2023, said Jansen during the launch of the book.
A new book on xenophobia in academic spaces is a very important book in the South African landscape, said Jonathan Jansen, distinguished professor in education at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Buhle Bam
Nearly impenetrable academic spaces
Despite the number of studies published by African (foreign national) academics who work at South African institutions of higher education, they are least likely to be considered for a promotion, “even though they publish more than anyone [else] in the department”, claimed Simba.
The ideal academic space is one where ideas flow freely, said Simba while discussing the barriers that hinder African scholars from being able to fully engage in academia at South African institutions.
“There are other things placed on colleagues,” said Simba with reference to scholars from other African countries. “Other extra hoops that they need to jump through.”
Academic xenophobia is contradictory, because a person’s academic contributions should warrant their presence in academic spaces, not their nationality, said Mkhize.
“[As] higher education spaces, those are the spaces of an intellectual discourse,” said Mkhize.
African academics also feel obligated to go above and beyond to be recognised for their work and considered for departmental senior positions, said Simba.
Dr Munya Saruchera, the director of the African Centre for Inclusive Health at Stellenbosch University, welcomed audience members to the launch of the book Academic Xenophobia: African Scholars in South African Universities on 12 March. PHOTO: Buhle Bam
The process of writing the book
Simba said that she shared her experience with academic xenophobia in the book, while “feeling a responsibility to tell the stories [of other African academics]”.
“I could not remove myself from the story and the project,” said Simba.
Simba said that she told her story in the book because she could not ask her research participants to offer up what she had not dared to.
The book is available as an e-book and, according to Simba, they plan to sell hard copies at Van Schaik outlets.