Additional DPUsummerLab research fellowship in Somaliland launched

We are currently offering the opportunity to a series of researchers to work in the field for an extended period, with the support of local partners. Two Research Fellows are currently working in Cali (Colombia) and São Paulo (Brazil) contributing to solidify and expand collaborative research agendas, respectively with Universidad del Valle, one of the most influential public universities in Colombia and partner in the Gridding Equitable Urban Futures in Areas of Transition (GREAT) research project, and Fundação Escola de Sociologia e Política de São Paulo (FESPSP), a partner of DPU in both teaching and research activities.

In Zeila, a coastal town in the Western region of Somaliland, we partner with Redsea Cultural Foundation an organisation aiming to promote reading and creative writing in Somali-speaking society with a particular focus on youth. The RCF established in 2014 the Hargeysa Cultural Centre (HCC) in Somaliland, that is well recognised worldwide for its yearly art and culture celebration through the Hargeysa International Book Fair. The centre is engaged in socially significant, provides trainings, and engages in research in collaboration with regional and global institutions for equal opportunity and collaborative global citizenry. 

The Research Fellow will have the task of mapping out physical artefacts of relevance for the socio-cultural and spatial trajectory of development of Zeila, along with their constructive techniques and (formal or informal) attempts at their conservation. The Research Fellow will also document oral histories, conduct archival research, and situate the overall investigation within the wider context of the Gulf of Aden, questioning the historical role of Zeila in such context.

We thank our partners Redsea Cultural Foundation, in particular Dr Jama Musse Jama for the continuous effort, commitment, and support.

Full role description is available here. Deadline for application is Thursday 5 January, at 1pm. For further information and clarification, please contact the DPU summerLab programme coordinator Dr Giorgio Talocci at giorgio.talocci.11@ucl.ac.uk