Keleabetswe Rabalago

15 years after my exposure to the political ideology of Black Consciousness, I feel like I am closer to realising my dream of contributing to the formation of African Psychology. A dream sparked by the need to understand the alienation that I felt coming face-to-face with the culture I was born into. A feeling I had no word for until the 3rd year of my BA study, reading a book titled The World Looks Like This From Here. Fired up by the possibility of a psychology that recognises the collective wounds borne of an oppressive past, I started my Master’s journey with my sleeves rolled up, ready to work. As soon as I walked through the metaphorical door, to my pleasant surprise, I was met by academics in the social sciences up in arms. Saying enough is enough! For how long will they be fed and be made to feed coloniality in the form of education?

In a refreshing new wave of academic decolonial activism, the past decade has brought new literature, social organisations, and business models that aim to address the coloniality of these contemporary times. Social science academics are crossing the invisible barrier line between academia and the society in which it exists, addressing issues of epistemology and methodology. From the various fields of the humanities, scholars are calling for a decolonial approach in theory and praxis.

Coloniality is a concept that describes colonial-like power relations that are invisible in modernity. Coloniality is a product of an incomplete struggle against historical colonialism, a system of oppression that involved land dispossession, labour and resource exploitation, and repressive laws. This system was characterised by the dehumisation of the people who were colonised, which was achieved through physical and psychological violence. Academics were commissioned to conduct research that justified the dehuminisation, theoretical frameworks were developed and science “proved” that some people (the colonised) were less advanced than others (the colonisers and beneficiaries of colonialism), thus they were incapable of participating in society as full humans. In this setting, academic researchers placed the colonised people under the microscope (literally and metaphorically), making them a subject of study, treating them as data points and never as people who produce knowledge. Through this process, the “othering” of the colonised people was further cemented, creating invisible barriers between the coloniser, colonial beneficiaries and the colonised people. Coloniality is the continuation of this system in contemporary times, colonialism reformed as modernity; one of the ways in which it manifests in academia is epistemic superiority and academic rigour.

Decolonial theory enables researchers and “non-scholars” to see the invisible thread that connects modernity to historical colonialism. Decolonial scholars argue that, in the  process of liberation, the struggle was primarily against visible colonialism — exploitation, violence, repression etc. — but the process did not destroy colonialism as a system of power. One of the major criticisms leveraged against modern  hegemonic epistemology is that it disregards other ways of knowing and claims to be the only system capable of producing valid and universally applicable knowledge. Decolonial scholars argue that there are multiple realities, and knowledge production is not a capability reserved only for dominant groups and systems; knowledge is pluriversal. Furthermore, hegemonic knowledge itself is a product of and for a specific context, and may not be universally applicable and appropriate to a different context.

An additional criticism laid against modern hegemonic epistemology, is the method of knowledge production; it is extractive, exploitative, and distant. Within this method of knowledge production, previously colonised places are seen as data sites, much like Africa was (and still is) seen as a resource site to be mined of its raw materials for processing and packaging elsewhere. This means that the extracted data are most likely to be interpreted and understood in a decontextualised way, separated from its original source and meaning. Furthermore, the results benefit the researcher (with academic recognition) rather than it does the people that participated in the production of knowledge.

Decolonial theory, specifically decoloniality, addresses the abovementioned problems. First, decolonial scholars argue that knowledge is contextual and that its context should be stated to allow visibility of its shortcomings in different contexts. Secondly, knowledge production is not and should not be produced and validated only by hegemonic institutions. It recognises that theorisation happens outside the borders of hegemonic institutions as well, therefore locations outside the institutional borders should not be approached as sites for data collection only, but as sites that produce knowledge. Furthermore, data should be analysed and understood within that knowledge system. Lastly, and importantly, researchers should invest their time and resources in supporting the communities where they conduct their research. This is especially important for researchers that focus on addressing issues of the remnants of colonialism. Decolonial theory calls for an egalitarian epistemology and approach to knowledge production.

Decolonial scholars recognise that coloniality, just like colonialism, will not go away on its own or “fizzle out”. Its eradication requires critical conscientisation of the problematic system, developing new theory for analysis, and collectively acting for transformation.

Note: The headline image of this blog post is a picture I took in 2024 at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Palesa Molefe

“Human, what?” he paused, mid-chew of the pasta in his mouth.

“Human biometeorology,” I said, chuckling at the expression of confusion that spread across his face.

He blinked and tilted his head, staring at me with concentration. “Sounds like something between sci-fi and weather forecasting”, he shrugged.

“Close!” I grinned. “It’s the study of how the weather and environment affect people in different spheres of life. Whether it’s health, tourism, or thermal comfort. Think of it as the bridge between meteorology and other scientific disciplines. With a human twist.”

That’s usually how most of my conversations go when people ask about my research.

What is My Research?

My MSc research sits right in the middle of the fascinating field of biometeorology; looking at the risk of heat stress in medical practitioners working in the emergency department of a government hospital.

It may sound niche, but it touches on something that affects all of us, especially as our climate continues to warm. It examines how our bodies cope with heat, especially when we’re working in high-stress, high-pressure environments.

The Emergency Department: A Heat Trap in Disguise

When we think of hospitals, we usually imagine sterile, air-conditioned halls and state-of-the-art equipment. But that image doesn’t always align with reality, especially in South African government hospitals that are often overburdened and under-resourced.

Now, zoom in on the emergency department. It’s a pressure cooker. Figuratively and, at times, literally.

When hospital heat stress and workplace pressure collide, even the lunchroom cannot survive under this pressure. (Image created with the help of ChatGPT Open AI).

Doctors, nurses, and support staff are constantly on their feet, making critical decisions, attending to trauma cases, and navigating overcrowded rooms, all while wearing personal protective equipment. Add poor ventilation, high patient turnover, and South Africa’s increasingly hot climate, and you get a perfect storm for occupational heat stress.

So this is the question: What is the risk of heat stress in healthcare in such a busy environment, and what can we do about it?

Why Human Biometeorology Matters in a Hospital

This is where human biometeorology comes in. It’s not just about tracking temperatures and humidity. It’s about understanding how those conditions interact with the human body. Specifically, it’s about how heat exposure affects heart rate, core body temperature, concentration, and even decision-making abilities.

My research explores these relationships in real-time hospital settings. Using tools that measure indoor temperature, humidity, radiant heat, and air movement, I will assess the thermal comfort and heat stress risk for emergency department practitioners. I plan to gather data on their experiences during their shifts.

The goal? To combine objective environmental data with personal experiences to build a fuller picture of how heat stress manifests in real-world clinical environments.

Climate Change Isn’t Just an Outdoor Problem

One of the most surprising insights I’ve had during my postgraduate journey is how climate change is not just an outdoor problem.

We often focus on farmers, construction workers, or athletes when talking about heat risk. Just like outdoor spaces, indoor spaces can be just as hazardous, especially when they lack adequate cooling systems or airflow. This is often the case in our public health facilities.

And when heat affects medical professionals, it’s not just their health that’s at stake. The quality of healthcare they provide to patients can be compromised. The risk of heat stress not only affects outdoor labourers, it also affects all other professions. Just a little differently.

The beauty of research like this is that it doesn’t just point out problems. It can also help spark solutions. I will explore these deeper as I conduct my research.

Back to the Pasta Bowl

“So, you’re basically making sure doctors don’t melt while saving lives?” he said, finally swallowing his pasta.

“Exactly,” I nodded enthusiastically. “They take care of us. The least we can do is to make sure their work environment doesn’t burn them out. Literally.”

He raised his fork in salute. “I’ll never look at a hospital the same way again.”

And honestly? That’s the point. If one conversation over pasta can shift someone’s perspective, then imagine what awareness, research, and action can do on a larger scale.

After all, human biometeorology may sound like a mouthful. At its core, it’s about keeping people safe, healthy, and thriving. Even under pressure. Even in the heat.

Note: The headline image of this blog post was created with the help of Canva.