UKZN Students Showcase National Question Research in Europe
Two University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students recently showcased their research at leading international conferences in Spain and The Netherlands, bringing South African perspectives on gender, identity, health and social justice into global academic conversations.
Ms Siphosethu Minki Fela, a PhD candidate, and Mr Braedon Steven, a master’s candidate, are both supervised by Professor Rozena Maart, Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)/National Research Foundation (NRF), South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in the National Question, whose work continues to shape critical scholarship on the historical and contemporary challenges facing South Africa.
Fela presented at the Spring School on Science, Religion and Health at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in Spain. Her paper, ‘Entanglements of Science and Religion in Making Sense of Obstetric Violence: How 18th-Century Imperial Religion Perspectives on the Black Female Shaped, and Continue to Shape Healthcare Practices Towards Black Women in Postcolonial South Africa’, examined how colonial-era ideas on Black female bodies continue to influence healthcare experiences for Black women today.
“My contribution was the unique location of obstetric violence in postcolonial South Africa as emerging from the entanglements of 18th-century religion and science,” said Fela. She noted that her research is not only academically significant but is also aimed at influencing policy development and implementation in South Africa’s public healthcare system. “This is in efforts to liberate the maternal Black woman from subordination and the violent experiences the medical field subjects her to for merely being female, pregnant and Black.”
Reflecting on the conference, Fela said presenting internationally affirmed her commitment to the field. “Science and religion will remain an exciting and relevant field for centuries to come. Health introduces its own complexities to an already brain-itching field; I could not be in a more enjoyable and rewarding field.”
Steven represented UKZN at the 13th Annual Dutch Research School of Philosophy (OZSW) Conference at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, themed ‘The Stakes of Engagement’. His paper, ‘Philosophy of Struggle: LGBTQ+ and The National Question’, explored how colonial and apartheid legacies continue to shape Black queer identity in South Africa and argued for a philosophy rooted in liberation and revolutionary praxis.
“As such, I argue that a Philosophy of Struggle must be adopted by the Black Queer subject, because Philosophy of Struggle is where oppression, bigotry and usurpation become revolution,” said Steven. He further argued that such a philosophy is necessary “to truly liberate Black Queer subjects” and to contribute to shaping South Africa’s national identity in the aftermath of colonialism and apartheid.
Steven described his work as a challenge to dominant traditions within the discipline. “In Philosophy often the Black queer body is omitted from what is considered the mainstream of Philosophy. Instead, I counteract this with Philosophy of Struggle where Philosophy is revolution, community, identity and praxis.”
Both scholars emphasised the significance of their research within the framework of the National Question. Fela noted that her work demonstrates how historical injustices continue to shape present-day realities, while Steven argued that understanding national identity requires a philosophical foundation that addresses questions of race, gender, identity, and liberation.
Their successful participation on international platforms highlights UKZN’s growing global research footprint and demonstrates the impact of the National Question Network, established by Maart, in fostering scholarship that connects intellectual inquiry with social transformation.
Words: Oliver Meth
Photographs: Supplied
