How can international cooperation evolve to include the voices and perspectives of historically marginalized populations? This was the central question addressed by the Black Academy workshop on October 16, 2025, under the theme “Decolonial Perspectives: Imagining Tomorrow’s International Cooperation.”
The 3-hour session was moderated by Abdoul Boukari with the participation of guest expert Dr. Boniface Mabanza Bambu. It brought together around sixty participants — young people, civil society actors, educators, international cooperation institutions, and activists — connecting from various parts of the world including Germany, Australia, the USA, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea.
The workshop highlighted the need to break with colonial continuities in international cooperations, question the traditional concept of development, and strengthen African self-determination.
Dr. Boniface presented a critical analysis of North–South cooperations and the role of international institutions, emphasizing the importance of valuing local knowledge and promoting cooperation based on mutual respect and equity.
The workshop also discussed the UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024, then 2025–2034) as a framework for Recognition, Justice, and Development, stressing the need to make visible the contributions of people of African descent and to combat their structural marginalization. In very accessible terms, Dr. Boniface explained how these concepts — Recognition, Justice, and Development — relate to the realities of Afro-descendants. The Decade, he reminded, calls for creating the conditions that allow the disadvantaged to fully realize their potential.
In group sessions, participants reflected on concrete approaches to decolonized international cooperation. The discussions covered topics such as reforming trade relations, creating a unified African currency, developing pan-African energy initiatives, and strengthening education and exchange programs for African youth.
Dr. Boniface emphasized the essential role of African self-determination and sovereignty in transforming international relations, noting that decolonization involves combining social action, the production of local knowledge, and the promotion of values rooted in African societies. He advocated establishing a code of conduct and promoting projects focused on structural change rather than merely technical solutions.
To keep the momentum alive, stay connected with Black Academy to discover our upcoming workshops, projects, and initiatives on decolonial perspectives.