GRiEG Seminar: African Indigenous Ontologies for Decolonial Climate Change Education and Resilience
| Dates: | 28 October 2026 |
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| Times: | 14:00 - 15:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | School of Environment, Education and Development |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, External researchers, Adults, Alumni, Current University students, General public |
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| Speaker: | Dr Marcellus Mbah |
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The presentation will argue that resilience requires epistemic plurality, to which African Indigenous ontologies and decolonial climate change education make vital contributions. Colonial legacies across Africa disconnect climate change education from socio-cultural
realities and constrain local epistemic agency. Indigenised approaches that centre Indigenous knowledge, relational pedagogies and place-based learning can strengthen climate change literacy and community resilience. African philosophies such as Ubuntu and
Ukama emphasise the interconnectedness of humans, non-humans, ancestors and ecosystems, valuing spirituality, emotion and intergenerational wisdom in responding to climate change. Alongside plural climate storylines that challenge dominant discourses, such
ontologies can inform decolonial, participatory and culturally responsive education that bridges knowledge systems, addresses unequal power relations and advances climate action, resilience and pluriversal justice.
Speaker
Dr Marcellus Mbah
Role: Senior Lecturer in MIE, SEED
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
A5.5
Ellen Wilkinson Building
Manchester
