UNIVEN Es’kia Mphahlele Centre for National and Global Dialogue  ·  Est. 2025
emcngd@univen.ac.za UNIVEN ↗
About → Vision & Mission → Focus Areas → Activities → Partnerships → News → Connect With Us →
Conceptualised March 2025

Es’kia Mphahlele
Centre for National
and Global Dialogue

EMCNGD — University of Venda

A pioneering hub for Afrocentric scholarship, transformative education and inclusive dialogue — reclaiming Africa’s intellectual voice for national and global transformation.

Discover the Centre → Focus Areas
UNIVEN Vision 2040 NDP 2030 AU Agenda 2063
Our Pillars
Afrocentric Scholarship
Anchoring debates that reshape global knowledge production.
Transformative Education
Advancing African heritage and IKS in higher education.
Inclusive Dialogue
Critical spaces for communities, policymakers and partners.
Policy Influence
African perspectives shaping global policy and scholarship.
About the Centre

Reclaiming Africa’s intellectual voice.

The Es’kia Mphahlele Centre for National and Global Dialogue (EMCNGD), conceptualised in March 2025, is a pioneering hub for Afrocentric scholarship, transformative education and inclusive dialogue.

Named in honour of the Afrocentric intellectual legacy of Es’kia Mphahlele, the Centre advances African heritage and Indigenous Knowledge Systems through anchoring debates that reshape global knowledge production.

The Centre responds to the persistent dominance of Eurocentric epistemologies in higher education and the marginalisation of African voices in knowledge creation and utilisation.

Explore Our Focus Areas →
African university students in discussion
In Honour Of
Es’kia
Mphahlele
1919 — 2008

An enduring Afrocentric intellectual whose legacy of scholarship and activism dedicated to advancing African identity, linguistic diversity and cultural heritage continues to inspire.

The Centre embodies this legacy — positioning UNIVEN as a continental leader in decolonisation, social justice and knowledge transformation.

Direction

Vision & Mission

Our Vision

To be a leading African hub for transformative education and Afrocentric dialogue that shapes policy, scholarship and knowledge systems globally.

Our Mission

To advance African heritage and Indigenous Knowledge Systems through critical dialogue, rigorous research and transformative postgraduate training.

What We Do

Focus areas & mandate.

Afrocentric Knowledge Production
Anchoring debates that reshape global knowledge production, positioning UNIVEN as a continental leader.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Embedding IKS into education, research and policy as a core decolonisation strategy.
Transformative Education
Supporting engaged scholarship through conferences, workshops and scholarly exchanges.
Policy Advocacy
Influencing policies that advance equity, inclusivity and cultural pride globally.
Community Empowerment
Cultivating critical spaces for dialogue across communities and policymakers.
Postgraduate Training
Mentoring the next generation of African scholars through structured research programmes.
African professor engaging with students
What We Produce

Strategic activities & outputs.

The EMCNGD generates new intellectual pathways through high-impact activities that connect scholarship, policy and community across the continent and globally.

Conferences & Workshops
Hosting scholarly conferences advancing Afrocentric discourse.
High-impact Publications
Policy briefs and journal articles in peer-reviewed platforms.
Scholarly Exchanges
International exchanges amplifying African perspectives.
Postgraduate Mentorship
Supporting Honours, Masters and PhD candidates.
Community Advocacy
Engaging communities and policymakers in dialogue.
Curriculum Development
Embedding African heritage and IKS into curricula.
Academic workshop in session
Strategic Alignment

Aligned with continental & national priorities.

UNIVEN Vision 2040
Leading in engaged scholarship
National Development Plan 2030
Quality education & inclusivity
African Union Agenda 2063
The Africa We Want
UNESCO IKS Framework
Indigenous knowledge recognition
Collaboration

Partnerships & stakeholders.

The Centre builds pan-African and international partnerships to ensure Africa’s voice claims its central position in providing solutions to national and global challenges.

Academic Institutions
Partner universities advancing Afrocentric scholarship.
Government Agencies
Government bodies supporting policy dialogue.
Community Organisations
Grassroots organisations co-producing knowledge.
International Bodies
UNESCO, African Union and global knowledge networks.
Policy Institutes
Think-tanks advancing evidence-based governance.
Cultural Institutions
Heritage bodies preserving African identity.
Academics partnering and collaborating
Stay Informed

Latest news & updates.

All news →
Get in Touch

Partner with us on this transformative journey.

We invite academics, students, industry and government to collaborate in advancing Afrocentric scholarship and inclusive dialogue for continental and global impact.

Quick Links
About the Centre → Vision & Mission → Focus Areas → Activities & Outputs → Partnerships → UNIVEN Website ↗