Bridging Theory and Practice
The Tuliwaza program of Fahamu takes an approach to knowledge based on the principle that Cabral articulated as the theory of practice and the necessity of theory for the practice of change:
“(…) every practice produces a theory, and that if it is true that a revolution can fail even though it be based on perfectly conceived theories, nobody has yet made a successful revolution without a revolutionary theory.” Amilcar Cabral, The Weapon of Theory, 1966.
?>/images/2-sp1.jpg” class=”alignleft” />Seeking to bridge the gap between the wealth of contemporary African intellectual thought and the practice of people-led struggle for social justice through community organizing and movement building, the Tuliwaza program seeks to create an interface between emerging African academics, leaders and activists, ensuring that knowledge generation be in the service of African peoples’. Further, Tuliwaza seeks to build knowledge that arises from the experience of movements while democratizing the process of knowledge generation and sharing. </p>
<p>Participatory and collaborative<br />
The Tuliwaza program will facilitate the generation and democratization of knowledge based on the needs of the African movement for social justice as articulated by:<br />
• an advisory committee of movement representatives (Fahamu’s AC6) who assist in the articulation of priorities and strategies, as well as contribute to knowledge generation based on theory and experience within their contexts and struggles.<br />
• identified needs assessed through Fahamu’s work with social movements in Africa throughout our programs. </p>
<p>Research carried out by the Tuliwaza will, wherever feasible, seek to be participatory and collaborative in its conceptualization – in particular with the communities the research seeks to benefit. Similarly, while we seek to facilitate African knowledge generation we believe that there is not one definitive solution or side to a debate. We will therefore promote debate, discussion and further contribution to all research in search of ongoing knowledge generation and engagement with political thought. In particular we will use the Pambazuka platform to ensure this continuous engagement with a wide audience. Further, the program will ensure interaction between academics and social movements at the forefront of creating change to ensure the bridge between theory and practice, while nurturing movement-led knowledge generation and research carried out by activists themselves. </p>
<p>Accessible<br />
In addition, Fahamu understands that the gap between theory and practice is also one of access. Built into all research design will therefore be distribution and communication as a key cornerstone of the program including:<br />
• the creation of outreach material elaborating main findings and contributions to thought of each research project<br />
• the elaboration of communication and distribution strategies including through Pambazuka News and other appropriate platforms that may include mainstream media, community forums, ICT forums among others. </p>
<p>Advisory committee members will further commit to disseminate research findings and outreach material within their movements and among their constituents through their own work.</p>
<p>Similarly, through Fahamu’s Adilisha program the research will form the cornerstone of learning provided to and for activism and therefore be communicated and accessed by a wide audience particularly among economically oppressed and marginalized communities. </p>
<p>Also recognizing the language diversity across Africa, research will be generated in a number of languages thus shifting the dominance of English in our work and will be made available in several African, and other languages where appropriate, as a priority wherever possible. </p>
<p>Supporting movement-led research<br />
Seeking to enhance the self-determination of movements, Fahamu also seeks to provide the tools and support necessary for African social movements to not only access research of relevance but produce knowledge themselves. Being a repository of a wealth of experiences, peoples’ histories, political thought and ideology, social movements and activists hold critical knowledge for the development and understanding of theories of change in contemporary Africa, while also seeking to arm themselves with the weapon of theory as well as liberate minds of those most marginalized in African societies. Fahamu will support through training delivered through the Adilisha program, through collaboration in research through the Tuliwaza program, and by providing networks and other support, wherever feasible, for movement led research. </p>
<p>Current Projects<br />
Emerging Powers<br />
As the global politic and world order shifts, the emerging powers in Africa project seeks to nurture African research that enables African policy makers, citizens and civil society to place Africa </p>
<p>Employment and Labour<br />
The objective of the employment research project is to generate lessons and case studies to stimulate public dialogues at multiple levels of public policy in order to create the political momentum to put employment highest on the economic and social policy agenda while critically analysing approaches, and the lack of approach, to work and workers in Africa. While initially focussing on employment, the scope of inquiry has been broadened to labour more broadly.</p>
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