An international seminar titled “Exploring Ethics in Transnational Media Research” aims to bring vital perspectives from Africa, South Asia and Latin America to the forefront in the wake of growing global conversations on decolonisation. Scheduled for May 30-31, this online event is part of the “Developing a Media Decolonisation Imaginary” project, led by Dr. Samantha Iwowo from Bournemouth University and Prof. Charles Ofosu Marfo from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana.
The seminar, funded by the UK Research and Innovation’s Higher Education Innovative Funds (HEIF), will delve into the ethics of transnational media collaborations, with a focus on South Asia and some examples from Africa.
Keynote speakers include Professor Nikita Dhawan from Technische Universität Germany and Prof. Jude William Genilo from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh, alongside notable African contributors such as filmmaker Bolanale Austen-Peters and Prof. George Bob-Milliar of KNUST.
The broader project, Developing a Media Decolonisation Imaginary, draws on expertise from Bournemouth University’s Centre for the Study of Conflict, Emotion and Social Justice (CESJ), and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Ghana, Industry partners industry are the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE), and Lanka Cine Media, Sri Lanka. It also involves research inputs from scholars at the University of Florida, U.S.A, Birkbeck University London and London of Economics (LSE) UK.
Characterised by knowledge-exchange seminars, the inaugural was in January 2024 forming a catalyst for conversations and reflections on knowledge decolonisation and repositioning for media development in Africa. In attendance were leading academics and industry experts Lindiwe Dovey, Professor of Film and Screen Studies at SOAS University of London; Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University; Dr. (h.c.,) Teju Kareem of the Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange; BAFTA award-winning producer, Fiona Lamptey; and Dumi Senda, EDI Portfolio Lead, BBC UK.
Following the successes of that inaugural discussions, the conversations now move to South Asia for a knowledge exchange aimed at expanding understanding of innovative ethical approaches to transnational media collaborations. Organisers extend a warm invitation to scholars and industry stakeholders to join the virtual conversation on a journey of intellectual growth and learning.
Project Leads, Dr Samantha Iwowo and Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo note that “this research aims to strengthen transnational media research collaborations, promote global media diversity and inclusivity by developing ethical frameworks underpinned by the participation of media practitioners and researchers who are directly implicated in north-south transnational media collaborations”.
