Community as Co-Author: Re-centring Local Agency in West African Studies Programmes, 2021–2026

This perspective piece critically examines the persistent epistemic hierarchies within West African Studies programmes. It argues that the period from 2021 to 2026 has catalysed a nascent but vital shift towards recognising local communities as co-authors, rather than mere subjects, of knowledge. The analysis contends that, despite enduring decolonisation discourses, academic initiatives frequently remain institutionally centred, thereby marginalising the custodians of the cultures and histories under study. Employing a conceptual framework synthesised from African feminist epistemology and participatory action research, the piece evaluates recent programme developments, community-archiving projects, and collaborative curriculum designs across the region. Its central thesis is that authentic re-centring necessitates a fundamental restructuring of research methodologies and pedagogical partnerships. This must move beyond tokenistic consultation to formalise community agency in agenda-setting, interpretation, and dissemination. Such restructuring entails shared ownership of intellectual outputs and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems as co-equal to academic theory. The significance of this approach lies in its potential to generate more nuanced, ethically grounded, and socially relevant scholarship that directly serves African societal needs. Ultimately, the piece advocates for a transformative model wherein West African Studies programmes are conceived as dynamic, co-created spaces, thereby advancing a more equitable and self-determined African knowledge economy.