Language and normalised abnormalities in the world today - Professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o
In this lecture, Professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o will address topics of coloniality and harms of imperialism/colonialisation. He will, in particular, focus on the lasting impact on colonialism and imperialism on native languages, African knowledge, memory, genocide and harms against the environment.
In the latter part of the event, Professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o will move towards addressing African-centred solutions to these lasting legacies. The lecture will be followed by a conversation with Esther Stanford-Xosei, community advocate and international expert on reparatory justice
The lecture and following discussion will be chaired by Professor Gary Younge from the University of Manchester Department of Sociology.
Tickets are free, please register via the Eventbrite link provided.
Speakers
Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
Role: Speaker
Biography: Professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o was born in Kamirithu near Limuru, in 1938, in the ‘white’ highlands of Kenya, the heart of the colonised landscape. The colonial regime shaped his family’s life. Professor Ngugi has received many distinguished awards, honorary doctorates and prizes between 1964 and 2022, acknowledging his unrelenting campaign against ‘normalised abnormalities’ resulting from colonisation. He is one of the few remaining scholars and activists whose work defines the grand eras of decolonisation of the African and global diasporic mind and we celebrate and honour his life’s work in Gukunguira.
Esther Stanford-Xosei
Role: Speaker (in conversation)
Biography: Esther Stanford-Xosei is a decolonial Pan-Africanist Jurisconsult, Reparationist, Community Advocate engaged in reparations policy, research and movement-building under the auspices of the Pan-African Reparations Coalition in Europe, Stop the Maangamizi Campaign, Global African People’s Parliament, International Network of Scholars & Activists for African Reparations, Extinction Rebellion Internationalist Solidarity Network as well as XR-Being the Change Affinity Network.
Professor Gary Younge
Role: Chair
Organisation: University of Manchester
Biography: Gary Younge joined Manchester University in 2020 from The Guardian, where he was a columnist and editor-at-large. His most recent work has focussed on youth violence, relating to shootings in the United States, where he was The Guardian correspondent for 12 years, and knife crime in Britain. Throughout his career both his jouranlism and books have covered social movements in general (and the civil rights movement in particular), inequality, race, immigration, identity and politiics . He is currently concentrating his research on the Black presence in post-war Europe.
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Theatre B
University Place
Manchester
