Academic Xenophobia: The Experiences of African Academics in the South African Academy

• In Event: Examining the Now, Dreaming Toward the Future: Race, Temporality, and Capacity Building

Abstract

In recent years African academics from outside South Africa have experienced increasing threats to their work and well-being in South Africa’s 26 public universities. Against the backdrop of explosive xenophobia in the townships, we examine the less visible ways in which Black Africans from elsewhere on the continent are excluded from full participation in research and teaching. We interviewed more than 50 African academics from 13 African countries on the main question of their experiences with xenophobia on South African campuses. Our findings point to veiled hostility but also systematic exclusion from permanent appointments, limited access to research funding, and caps on promotions. We seek theoretical explanations for academic xenophobia where Black Africans on campuses are pitted against each other.

Authors

• Jonathan David Jansen, Stellenbosch University

• Cyrill Agnes Walters, Stellenbosch University