Paper short abstract:

Here, I discuss the aspects of both neocolonialist collaborative research, showing how political issues and inexperience disfavoured the Congolese side that my colleagues and I represented. Finally, I explore a more balanced, respectful collaborative research following an exploitative research.

Paper long abstract:

Collaborative research between African and European researchers is important for both African and European scholars for complementarity in knowledge production about Africa and beyond.

However, for historical, socio-economic and even political reasons, such collaboration did not always work in favour of both involved parties. Scholars in Africa and Europe have described this collaboration as being unbalanced, exploitative and more beneficial for the European/Western side for different reasons (funding opportunities, research infrastructures, experience and lack of other needed resources)…

In this paper, I explore the subject using my experience of collaboration going back from more than ten years with researchers from the Western world. Here I discuss the aspects of imperialist or neocolonialist collaborative research. I discuss how political issues and inexperience came into play to further disadvantage the Congolese side that my colleagues and I represented. Furthermore, I explore a more balanced, respectful, collaborative research that came into play later after my first failed experience. I touch the issue of the so-called research decolonization, where both parties are equals and the rights of participants are at the centre of any intervention.

Keywords: Collaborative research, Europe, Africa, neocolonialism, research decolonization, respect, Justice.