Imaginings & Practice: Decolonial South African Community Psychology (Part A)
For this epipsode, the conversation revolves around community psychology in South Africa, tracing the different eras it has gone through, from anti-apartheid and anti-colonial eras to the current focus on decoloniality and socio-political structures. South African community psychology has contributed to global community psychology by broadening critique, challenging oppressive practices, and emphasizing cultural and indigenous perspectives.
In this conversation Garth Stevens and Rejane Williams weave together dialogues with guests Floretta Boonzaier, Peace Kiguwa, Kopano Ratele, and Mohammed Seedat as they explore the different layers and facets of decolonial imaginations and praxis in South African Community Psychology including the importance of understanding violence in all its forms and the dynamics of power, ideology, and identity in social change and Mohammed shares insights from the Institute for Social and Health Sciences, which disrupts biomedical traditions and engages in community-based research from marginalized spaces.
Garth and Rejane along with their panel of guests explore the limitations and challenges of community psychology in South Africa. Floretta highlights the challenge of translating decolonial discourse into practice and the relevance of critical approaches in addressing issues like gender-based violence and trauma. Kopano emphasizes the influence of neoliberal capitalism on psychology and the need for psychologists to closely engage with communities and counteract its negative effects.
Peace emphasizes the critical analysis of power and ideology within psychology and the need for self-reflection in community psychology. They stress the importance of questioning conceptualizations of community and avoiding unintentional harm. The conversation concludes with a focus on countering individualism and advocating for vibrant communities through various mediums.
Florieta and Peace discuss an agenda for the radical resurgence of critical community psychology in South Africa. They emphasize the decolonial perspective, understanding ongoing colonization, countering epistemic violence, and holding complexity in understanding people’s lives. Ethical practice, representation of marginalized communities, and opening spaces for desire, resistance, pleasure, and radical forms of help are also highlighted.
Peace brings in the perspective of Black and African feminist theorizing, exploring the role of emotion and affect in critical community practice. They discuss subjectification, the politics of rage and love, and the complexities of social fragmentation. Peace also explores the affective dimensions within institutions and the importance of confronting oneself and engaging with decolonization in the education space.
Co-Hosts / Guests
Rejane Williams (She/Her), a researcher from South Africa, currently residing in Simon’s Town. This coastal town carries a history of Black communities forcibly relocated, but for Rejane, it’s a reclaimed space, thanks to her partner’s roots. In her work, Rejane delves into the intricacies of race and subjectivity, exploring the racialization of individuals and how they navigate the complexities of racism. Her focus extends to the profound impact of trauma, particularly in the South African context, grappling with the legacies of colonialism, apartheid, and slavery. Recognizing the limitations of individual psychology, Rejane is passionately dedicated to unraveling the possibilities of collective healing from historical trauma.
Floretta Boonzaier is a South African psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Cape Town. She is noted for her work in feminist, critical and postcolonial psychologies, subjectivity in relation to race, gender and sexuality, and gender-based violence, and qualitative psychologies, especially narrative, discursive and participatory methods. She heads the Hub for Decolonial Feminist Psychologies in Africa with Shose Kessi.
Peace Kiguwa (PhD) is Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research interests include critical social psychology, affective politics of gender and sexuality, racism and racialization and the nuances of teaching and learning. Her research projects have included focus on young women’s leadership in Higher Education and the Destabilizing Heteronormativity project.
Floretta Boonzaier is a South African psychologist and Professor of Psychology at the University of Cape Town. She is noted for her work in feminist, critical and postcolonial psychologies, subjectivity in relation to race, gender and sexuality, and gender-based violence, and qualitative psychologies, especially narrative, discursive and participatory methods. She heads the Hub for Decolonial Feminist Psychologies in Africa with Shose Kessi.
