Yorkshire African Studies Network Ethnography Workshop 2025

Ethnography invites researchers to immerse themselves in the lived realities of communities, uncovering the rich textures of everyday life, belief systems, and social interactions. The Yorkshire African Studies Network (YASN) and Leeds Centre of African Studies (LUCAS) are delighted to invite you to join us for an engaging workshop that explores the vital role of ethnographic methods in decolonising research.

Through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and other qualitative techniques, ethnographers gain access to the voices, values, and perspectives that are often overlooked in conventional research. This approach deepens cultural understanding and challenges dominant narratives by centring the experiences of those being studied. 

In this workshop, you’ll gain insights into:  

• The history and theory behind ethnographic research
• Ethical considerations and the politics of representation
• The practical challenges and rewards of fieldwork
• How ethnography contributes to more empathetic, inclusive, and culturally sensitive research

 Whether you're a student, academic, or practitioner, this session will equip you with tools to approach research with greater reflexivity, respect, and relevance.

Date: Thu 20 Nov 2025, 14:00-17:30
Venue: Helix Classroom (7.14), EC Stoner Building (this event is in-person only)
Google map link to venue: Map

Schedule:
14:00 - 14:10 Opening remarks: LUCAS (Brendon Nicholls, Abel Ugba) and YASN (Winnifred Bedigen)
14:10 - 15:10 PGR speakers: Glanis Changachirere, Paula Bologna, Kelechi Okengwu and Greta Bustamante
15:10 - 15:30 Guest speaker: Catherine Degnen
15:30 - 15:40 Comfort Break
15:40 - 16:35 Panel: Anna Mdee, Dan Brockington, Dan Hemmett, (additional guests TBA); Topic: “What does this long-term ethnography tell us in an age of AI?” 
16:35 - 17:30 Refreshments & Networking

If you have any queries about this event, please send them by email to Mary Magdalene Osei-Wusu at [email protected] or Janith Jayatilake Kankanamalage at [email protected].

Please register your place at this workshop by completing a short registration form. Places are limited and the form will close once capacity is reached, after which a waitlist will be in operation.

Registration Form

Full details of the workshop are available to view. Thank you!