Phoebe Kisubi Mbasalaki is an esteemed scholar affiliated with the Department of Sociology at Essex University. Her scholarly activities revolve around critical issues of race, class, gender and sexuality, with a particular emphasis on decolonial thought and action. Driven by her passion for promoting inclusivity and empowering marginalized communities, she engages in research that challenges existing power structures and advocates for social justice.
Phoebe’s academic involvement goes beyond her research efforts. She is an active participant in the project facilitating a transcontinental dialogue on gender studies between the African Gender Institute (AGI) at the University of Cape Town and the Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Heritage of African Descendants (NIREMA) at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Through this collaborative initiative, scholars from both continents can share their knowledge, promote mutual understanding and create meaningful connections.
In addition to her research and collaboration, Phoebe also contributes to the academic community by teaching several courses at Essex University. Her courses, including Human Rights: Theories and Applications and The Sociological Imagination, give students a critical understanding of social issues and inspire them to contribute positively to their communities.
What is your scholarly background and expertise?
Research interests: Critical race, class, gender and sexuality; Decolonial thought and praxis; Creative activism; Arts-based practices and research; Sexual Reproductive Health; Sex Work; Migration; Meaningful collaborations with NGOs and grassroots organizations.
What role do you have within the Refugee Academy and what keeps you busy in this role?
I work with a team on the Engaged Scholarship narratives for change project, primarily focused on South Africa.
What do you think is most important about/from the Refugee Academy and why?
Bringing to life and making visible the lived reality of refugees.
What is your personal ambition within Refugee Academy and how would you connect this to your work and/or life outside Refugee Academy?
Activism for social justice, striving for a dignified and just world that disrupts hegemonies, recognizes and centres marginal lives.
Refugee Academy- related projects :
– Engaged Scholarship and Narratives of Change