On 13 January 2025, Unisa’s College of Human Sciences (CHS) launched the 11^th anniversary edition of its revered Decoloniality Summer School (DSS), under the theme Fanon beyond Fanon: living decoloniality - language, identity and aesthetics, at its Muckleneuk Campus, Tshwane.  

2025 Unisa Decoloniality Summer School attendees

A towering figure in decolonial thought

The 2025 DSS is particularly important because it coincides with the 100^th anniversary of Frantz Fanon's birth. Fanon was a highly influential figure in the field of decolonial thought.

In her welcome address, Prof Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean: CHS, welcomed the distinguished guests, scholars and participants of the DSS, stating that Fanon would have relished the fact that his works on decolonial thought continue to be studied.

Prof Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean: CHS

She said this year’s theme, Fanon beyond Fanon: living decoloniality - language, identity and aesthetics, aptly articulates Fanon’s journey during which he unpacked the struggle of a black man subjected to colonialism. 

She continued: "In his book Black Skin White Masks, Fanon shared how blacks wanted to escape blackness to benefit from white privilege. This was perpetuated by the coloniser’s exposure of blacks to psychological trauma, being forced to adopt white identity, and being ridiculed and stripped of their identity."

Not yet Uhuru

While citing some of Fanon’s writings, Nkosi reflected on the 30 years of South Africa’s democracy, stating that the country is still topping global charts on high levels of income and wealth inequality, and that corruption continues to hamper the gains of democracy. She explained: "As a South African, I can relate to the narrative which depicts the life of the colonised. We endured the pain and suffering of the apartheid era. It’s unfortunate that it is still not yet Uhuru. Even after 30 years of democracy, there still exists a huge divide between the haves and have-nots. The black man who has been given an opportunity to improve the lives of the poor has sadly only thought about his inner circle. We are affected by greed and corruption, but have the power to eradicate these social ills."

Eurocentrism is superior

Continuing, Nkosi stressed that there is a dire need to develop and implement a decolonised curriculum. "We have talked about it, but little has been done." This, she said, reflects the many residuals of colonialism, including gauging Eurocentric standards as inherently superior to all others.

Language and cultural identity

Nkosi said that languages are fundamental to cultural identity, heritage. And the social cohesion of a society, yet, she said, their significance often goes overlooked in policy and practice, stressing that despite numerous recommendations and the constitutional obligation to promote indigenous languages, 30 years of minimal action highlight the pressing need for effective evaluation, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms. "Without robust oversight," she continued, "the neglect of indigenous languages will persist, further deferring the dream of their development and recognition."

The solution to this, she said, is to prioritise strong management in order to achieve true linguistic equity and cultural preservation, thereby decolonising knowledge.

Throughout the programme, Nkosi continued to explore and advocate for the ideas of Afrocentrism, decolonisation and the impact of colonialism through the works of Frantz Fanon. This included examining themes such as identity, the relationship between colonialism and identity, identity politics and existentialism, among others.

Concluding her message, Nkosi stated that Fanon was a revolutionary thinker, philosopher, physician, author extraordinaire, activist and fighter, and that he was a brave man who was not scared to go to uncharted territories and whose works continue to influence, empower, liberate, revolutionise and, most importantly, inspire many Fanonists into action.

Front, from left: Prof Zethu Nkosi: Executive Dean: CHS; Prof Lewis Gordon, University of Connecticut; Prof Makhosazana Xaba, University of Johannesburg; and Prof Jane Gordon, University of Connecticut
Back, from left: Dr Britta Zawada, former Deputy Executive Dean: CHS; Prof Thinandavha Mashau, Deputy Executive Dean: CHS; Winnie Mokgupi: Head of Transformation: CHS; and Prof Rozena Maart, University of KwaZulu-Natal

During the entire programme, an expert panel comprising Prof Rozena Maart, specialist in political philosophy and black consciousness, Prof Molife Asante, the  father of Afrocentricity, Prof Lewis Gordon, specialist in Africana, black existentialism, race and racism, and Prof Makhosazana Xaba, poet and short story writer, critically engaged with the audience on various topics centered on Fanon’s works.

The DSS has become a vibrant forum for rigorous and thought-provoking discussions, critically reflecting on decolonial discourses from the Global South. The conversations at this DSS will serve as a foundation for developing epistemologies essential to sustaining South-South ecosystems and intellectual traditions.

* By Khabonina Maduna, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences, with additional reporting by Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement