ABOUT YOU AS A FUTURES THINKER / PRACTITIONER

You identify yourself as an African futures thinker or practitioner. How would you describe to the woman or man on the street what it is that you do in this regard?

Together with whomever feel up to the challenge, I create spaces for collective intelligence. Spaces for dialogue, where time is not seen as a constraint but the opportunity to explore and learn with and from each other.

How many years have you worked as an African futures thinker / practitioner?

I haphazardly encountered Futures Literacy at a UNESCO conference on how to 'Decolonize African Futures' hosted by Drs Riel Miller, Geci Karuri-Sebina and Alioune Sall in 2013. I have since then co-designed and facilitated processes that nurture one's futures literacy.

In which countries or places have you had working experience as an African futures thinker / practitioner?

Mainly Africa and Europe (France and its Carribean islands, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco, etc.)

Recently (2020), Costa Rica, Lebanon and USA.

In what languages have you undertaken futures / foresight related work or research?

English; French.

I have also accompanied and co-designed processes that were multilingual, involving Arabic and Portuguese.

What is it that motivates you to work or participate in the foresight / future studies / related field

Late Cameroonian philosopher F. Eboussi Boulaga wrote in his iconic book 'La crise du Muntu: authenticité africaine' that the most reflection-prone minds in Africa tend to seek the approval of our former colonial masters. And even when they believe they don't, they are looking for closure with the rest of the world. And closure can only occur if there is a room for discussion. This space does not exist just yet.

We need closure not only with the West. In fact, we first need closure with our kin, with our peers. I therefore wish to contribute to the design and sustainability of a space for closure, a space for discussion, a space for community growth.

What is your main disciplinary background? (i.e. your primary training / qualification)

Law; Decolonial Studies; Complexity Studies, and of course, the Discipline of Anticipation.

How do other people describe you and how do you describe yourself?

Others describe me as... 'Meta-monkey' (reflection goes in hand with humor) & 'Ibhere Elilambi' (best description of my approach to learning & knowledge)

YOUR PERSPECTIVE

How would you describe the state of African futures thinking right now?

If we are open to connecting disciplines together, we will realize that the ways and reasons for thinking about the future have been at the core of the epistemological struggles that Africa has pioneered together with Latin America and China.

What is, in your opinion, the main barrier to uptake of futures knowledge by African institutions and organisations?:

The realization that thinking about futures is urgent (1), and more importantly, thinking creatively about the future(s) is dire (2). This is not only about adding new patterns to our skillset, but rethinking why our skillset, why seeking such an accumulation of knowledge. (2) It is about finding ourselves, locating ourselves in both time and space.

The first step has reached our entire planet, including Africa, but I believe we have yet to connect the dots for the second step. This is the shift on what it means to be.

What are your recommended readings for every African futures thinker / practitioner?

Postcolonial and decolonial thinkers are my greatest sources of inspiration, but I also include futurists. Here is my top 7:

• "Learning to Unlearn: Decolonial Reflections from Eurasia and the Americas" by Madina Tlotstanova and Walter Mignolo (available online)
• "L'aventure ambiguë" by Cheikh Ahmadou Kane
• "Afrotopia" by Felwine Sarr
• "Préface" by Nadia Yala Kisukidi in Mbembe, Achille (2020). De la postcolonie : Essai sur l’imagination politique dans l’Afrique contemporaine. Paris : Karthala, 2e ed
• "Learning, the Future and Complexity: the Emergence of Futures Literacy" by Riel Miller (available online)
• "Epistemologies of the South. Justice Against Epistemicide" by Boaventura de Souza Santos (available online)

On methodologies:

• "Methodology of the Oppressed" by Chela Sandoval (available online)
• "Decolonizing Methodologies. Research and Indigenous Peoples" by Linda Tuhiwai Smith
• "Research Methodology in Africana Studies – Revised Edition" by Serie McDougal III

What are your recommendations for other favourite futures resources: websites, newsfeeds, mailing lists, associations, etc.?

Capacity to Decolonise (C2D): http://foresightfordevelopment.org/c2d

Transforming the Future: Anticipation in the 21st Century - available in French, English & Arabic: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000264644