Ozhope Collective, racial capitalocene and the oil debate in Malawi

This talk focuses on an art project titled “Row” by a Malawian art group called Ozhope Collective. “Row” is based on the dugout canoe and is produced in conjunction with fishing communities along the shores of Lake Malawi. The project is a response by Ozhope to Malawi government’s plan to drill for oil in Lake Malawi. Using the concept of racial capitalocene especially as championed by Jason Moore, this talk argues that, through “Row”, Ozhope unmasks and critiques social and environmental injustices that local communities are likely to suffer once the project takes off.

By working with local fishers in producing these artworks, Ozhope does not only ground their work in the quotidian summarily neglected by those at the deal-negotiating tables. Such an approach also ensures that the local community’s perspectives become central to Ozhope’s artistic expression.

Emmanuel Ngwira holds a PhD (English Studies) from Stellenbosch University, South Africa‎. He teaches literature (African poetry and the novel, Malawian literature both oral and written) and African popular arts in the English Department at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College. In 2018 he was Fulbright Visiting Scholar in the Comparative Literature Department at New York University. His current research interests include the African Novel and 21st Century African Migration, African Popular Arts in the Digital Age, and Refugees Creative Arts in Malawi.

This seminar will take place on Zoom. In order to join the meeting, input the following details:

• Meeting ID: 995 0053 2291
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