Ethnography Talks: Ethnography as a Double-Edged Sword

As part of the “Ethnography Talks” series organized by the Critical Ethnography Collective at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), two Early Career Fellows for Researchers from the Global South at the St.Gallen Collegium, Drs. Khanyile Mlotshwa and Robby Kapesa, shared reflections on the complexities of ethnographic research.

In their talk, “Ethnography as a Double-Edged Sword and the Possibilities of Knowledge in Africa,” they explored the particular challenges that arise when scholars conduct research within their own communities. As African researchers working on African contexts, they discussed how the distinction between “the field” and everyday life can collapse, making the research process both intellectually rich and personally demanding.

Their presentation highlighted how this proximity creates unique methodological and ethical dilemmas in ethnographic fieldwork. At the same time, they addressed structural challenges faced by scholars from the Global South when engaging with international academic publishing, including expectations and standards shaped largely by disciplinary traditions in the Global North.

The discussion opened an important space to reflect on how knowledge about Africa is produced, whose perspectives shape scholarly debates, and how ethnographic practice can both empower and constrain researchers working within their own social worlds.