Reconceptualising Southern African Studies: Sustainable Methodologies and Decolonial Praxis in the Central African Republic

This paper interrogates the persistent methodological and epistemological Eurocentrism within Southern African studies, advocating for a reconceptualisation rooted in sustainable, place-based praxis. It contends that the field remains constrained by extractive research models and theoretical frameworks ill-suited to local realities. Using the Central African Republic (CAR) as a critical case study, the paper proposes a decolonial methodological shift centred on African knowledge systems and equitable partnerships. Methodologically, it analyses participatory action research conducted with women’s agricultural collectives in southwestern CAR (2021–2024), evaluated through lenses of epistemic justice and sustainability. The findings demonstrate that co-developed methodologies—integrating oral histories, indigenous ecological knowledge, and collaborative archiving—generate more nuanced insights into socio-ecological resilience and actively counteract intellectual extraction. The paper argues that sustainable African studies must prioritise approaches which leave a positive capacity legacy within communities, moving beyond mere data collection. Its significance lies in providing a concrete, rigorous framework for decolonial practice, illustrating how centring African women’s knowledge and ensuring mutual benefit can transform the ethical and intellectual foundations of area studies, making them genuinely responsive to the continent’s priorities.