"We need to reflect more on decolonisation, and that includes universities"

[c) Stad Gent - According to Annelies Verdoolaege, who coordinates the Africa Platform at Ghent University, we need to observe the African continent from an equality perspective rather than using our western gaze. The topic of decolonisation has never been hotter. In the US, George Floyd's death sparked a wave of protests, and, ever since, the Black Lives Matter movement has been receiving wide support in Belgium as well. Statues of King Leopold II have been vandalised or removed across the country. Late last June, the Ghent city council followed suit, and decided to remove one of those statues from the Zuidpark. Racism research. "Right around that time, we were in talks with the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town and the University of Missouri about organising a webinar," says Annelies Verdoolaege, one of the founding members of the Africa Platform. "It seemed like the perfect opportunity to discuss the issue, as universities are facing the same problems. And universities are exactly where research is conducted on racism, colonisation and history." According to Annelies Verdoolaege, the collaboration between those three universities generates tremendous added value: "This partnership has been around for years and provides us with the chance to learn from one another, especially when it comes to this subject. In Cape Town and Missouri, students regularly hold anti-racism protests, even at the university campuses." In the end, all three universities decided to organise not just one, but a three-part series of webinars on racism. Each university hosts one webinar, and Ghent University's is up on Thursday 15 October at 7pm. What about the topic?