Africanity and research: A case study in rural South Africa

Abstract

In the first part of this article, Africanity as a concept within research methodology is exploredin the dialogical spaces between the binaries of racial identity and group identity, indigenousand traditional values, post-colonialism and post-racialism, blackness and African, as well aseliminativist and conservationalist. In the second part, the research carried out in twotownships in the eMakhazeni Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, South Africa’s most easternprovince, is described in terms of parameters and process. The townships involved areSakhelwe in Dullstroom-Emnotweni and Emthonjeni in Machadodorp-eNktokozweni. Theresearch focuses on interviews with young people between the ages of 18 and 24 on thepotential of faith-based organisations to assist them in moving from the ’margins‘ of society topositions of social cohesion. The third and main part of the article, is dedicated to lessonslearnt and experience acquired when research is carried out in a rural area from an Africanityperspective. This entails, inter alia (1) to be sensitive towards power relations in research; (2)respecting indigenous values within group identities; (3) not predefining the youth, usingindigenous (and not European) definitions of ‘agency’ and ‘marginalisation’; (4) to engage inobservation rather than interpretation; and (5) to decolonise the research process whenregarding interpretation as an act of colonisation.

The use of research methods in the South African Journal of Psychology

“…It can therefore be argued that the unique context of South Africa prompts the use and growth of qualitative research, as research is continuously encouraged to transform and become more flexible as a way to fit with knowledge-generation in South Africa (Kramer et al, 2019). Qualitative research is also central to the methodological concept ‘Africanity’ in social research and is used to present ‘the values indigenous to a group which identifies with African ways of being and thinking’ (Landman & Yates, 2017, p. 9). Therefore, the high frequency of qualitative studies in the SAJP not only concurs with the journal’s focus on articles concerned with psychological aspects regarding social change and development in Africa (Sage Journals, 2020) but also promotes flexible methods for research in the South African context.…”

Engaging the work of Professor Christina Landman

“…Landman defends this methodological position by citing Prof. Rothney Tshaka, who argues that such a methodology is more true to the values held in the African context regarding how research should be done (Tshaka 2016) compared to the values of traditional Western methodologies. So, Landman speaks and is enabling the marginalised to speak by unlocking their voices by means of conversation, co-research and codiscovery (Landman & Yates 2017).…”