Paper short abstract:

Opportunities for African researchers in the global north to conduct research ‘back home’, embody a shift to decolonial Anthropology. Reflections on complexities of positionality, social responsibility and decolonisation during my fieldwork as a South African affiliated with a Dutch university.

Paper long abstract:

In the pursuit of economic opportunities, early career African researchers often migrate to the global north while conducting research ‘back home’, in their home countries, signaling a shift towards decolonial Anthropology. This migration, however, introduces challenges related to navigating complex dynamics of positionality, decoloniality, and fieldworker responsibility. The researcher’s transnational, racial, ethnic, class and gender identities result in a continual shifting on the insider-outsider spectrum.

In this article I draw reflections on my fieldwork experience in Mankweng, South Africa, as a South African pursuing a Ph.D. at a Dutch university, I grapple with the conspicuous nature of my position upon entering the field. The historical relationship between the Netherlands and my post-colonial home significantly influences gatekeeping and collaboration opportunities, providing a contextual backdrop for my research.

Similar to other African scholars documented by Bourke et al. in 2009, I confront the tension between social responsibility towards my interlocutors and their expectations of mutual benefit. The proximity of the research field to my home offers a chance to reconnect with loved ones, but it also intensifies the pressure to be present for significant life events, adding complexity to my fieldwork journey.

This reflection, from the perspective of a global south early career researcher affiliated with a global north university, contributes a nuanced narrative to the Anthropology of southern Africa. It echoes the voice of scholars who navigate the complexities of conducting fieldwork 'back home,' where personal, social, and decolonial dimensions intersect in a delicate dance.