In 2022 and 2023, AFREXTRACT organised a webinar series at which internationally prominent scholars of extraction presented their work. Team members interviewed the scholars, to explore the intersections between our research projects.
In 2023, AFREXTRACT team members undertook preliminary research visits to Johannesburg and the Niger Delta. We mapped archival and documentary repositories (in South Africa we visited 7 archives and rare document collections, whereas in Nigeria we consulted 4 collections, including newspaper holdings and archival documents), and we conducted oral history interviews. In Johannesburg, we targeted the mine dumps in Diepkloof, Springs, and Khutsong and we interviewed several NGOs, environmental activists, and filmmakers. In the Niger Delta, the research is concentrated in Eleme and Otuabagi. The NGO and university communities of Port Harcourt are rich sources of information.
Research on the Zambian Copperbelt, which was started in 2017, was continued in 2024. The archival holdings of the National Archives of Zambia in Lusaka, the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines in Ndola, and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency in Ndola have already been mapped in 2017-2018. In 2024, team members conducted more than 40 oral history interviews in Mufulira (as well as Chingola). Oral history interviews focused on communities living around mining sites. We also conducted research on photographic praxis alongside Danny Chiyesu, whereas collections of literary works are being mapped in both English and iciBemba.
In 2024, Tholithemba Ndaba conducted seven months of research in Johannesburg, focusing on oral history and archival research. Moreover, sources relating to literature, music, and photography have been mapped. Research into photographic praxis occurred alongside Madoda Mkhobeni and William Matlala.
In June-July 2024, AFERXTRACT team members conducted research in the Niger Delta. We conducted oral history interviews in Otuabagi community in Bayelsa state and in Eleme community in Rivers state. Research into photographic praxis occurred alongside Lucas Deinma and Fyneface Dumnamene.
A milestone was the organisation of the project conference in Pretoria in May 2023. This conference brought together twenty scholars working on environmental histories of resource extraction in South Africa and beyond. In July 2024, the AFREXTRACT team organised its second conference at the University of Port Harcourt. More than 40 presenters shared their work. There was also an early career writing workshop, to prepare papers for publication. Two special issues are being prepared from this conference (2025).
Project team members have started publishing their findings, the PhD students have written book reviews, whereas the PI has published three articles and a teaching resource. One co-authored article on methods is in press.
