Ethnography, Applied Theatre and Stiwanism: Creative Methods in Search of Praxis Amongst Men and Women in Jinja, Uganda

Abstract

This article critically reflects on a long‐term intergenerational project combining ethnographic and social science research methods and Freirean‐inspired applied theatre in a long‐term participatory process working alongside men and women in search of a ‘plenitude of praxis’: strengthening and promoting an urban community's capacity to unite across social barriers in recognising systemic injustices and inequalities and challenging these through community‐led interventions in pursuit of common social justice outcomes. It reflects on the successes, complexities and failures of an approach rooted in African feminism, and in particular stiwanism, in a context of entrenched urban poverty in Jinja Municipality, Uganda. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The underrepresentation of women in sport leadership in South Africa

“…Male hegemony finds global expression in behaviour by men in broader society and in sport (34). Yet regionally, African feminism, Stiwanism and Nego-feminism provide an additional layer, by acknowledging that Black African men may actually be reluctant to share their power and privilege with women, due to the acquisition of this by many, post-colonialism and post-apartheid (69)(70)(71)(72)(73). Such behaviour could therefore be linked to a lack of objectivity, based on research participants' shared experiences of uncoordinated and often unsupportive environments and negotiations found at the leadership level within South African sport (72).…”

‘Girls have powers’: using research-led arts to connect policymaking with girls’ lived experiences in Uganda

“…Building on existing work combining arts and social science methodologies to better understand and challenge urban inequalities (McQuaid et al 2018;McQuaid and Plastow 2017), this project was conducted over nine months in 2017. We invited all the girls in Primary 6the penultimate year of primary school (with no major examinations to prepare for)to work with us, resulting in a total of 54 participants aged between 10-16 years.…”

“…Creative workshops drew on the tradition of Freirean applied theatre, developed for use in situations of discrimination and exclusion to stimulate discussion of issues and relationships of key concern and bring about changes in power relations (Freire 1973;McQuaid and Plastow 2017;Boal 1979). Workshops aimed to be 'participatory and experiential' and thus blurred boundaries between 'training to do' and 'doing' (Thompson 2005, 28).…”