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SPL Staff Exciting Experience as Guest Researcher at Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden

Prof Josephine Kaviti Musango was awarded Guest Researcher scholarship at Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) in Sweden (http://nai.uu.se/), and spent the fellowship from 1 February – 31 March 2018, with her host, Dr Patience Mususa.

'My fellowship experience at NAI was the most exciting one because I had time to specifically focus on my research, and wrote a paper which is currently in submission process', says Prof Musango. She was thrilled by the large collection of African Scholars' textbooks at NAI Library, which makes it an excellent institution for African Scholars to have a productive time.

While at NAI, she published an article with Paul Currie in The Conversation about the Day Zero Plan for City of Cape Town (https://theconversation.com/cape-towns-plans-for-what-happens-after-day-zero-just-wont-work-heres-why-92612), which was one of the most read pieces in the month of March, reaching over 30 000 reads. She also presented her research to NAI colleagues and it was featured on NAI Website (http://nai.uu.se/news/articles/2018/03/09/112328/). Further, she submitted a panel for the Nordic Africa Days with Paul Currie and Prof Stephan Krygsman on 'African mobilities as processes of urban metabolism' (http://nai.uu.se/nad-2018/panels/panel-29/), which will be held on 19 -21 September 2018.

“I am excited for the opportunity and support for collaborative research provided to me in NAI, which included a seminar on DIY urbanism with my host, Dr Mususa and other invited collaborators, as well as a visit to University of Bergen, where I am submitting a South Africa-Norway collaboration proposal".

It was not all work without play! It had to be Lagom. Prof Musango had her first ice skating experience, thanks to Lina Soiri, the Director of NAI, and Ingela Dahlin, Librarian, who provided a wonderful training session. NAI also provided the opportunity to Watch Black Panther in 3D, and the discussions thereafter, were stimulating.

Prof Musango is very thankful for Tania Berger, Head of Administration and Research support, and Annika Franklin, Research Administrator, for making her stay since arrival to departure, a wonderful one. She also thanks all the NAI colleagues for the interesting conversations during 10 am coffee breaks, Wednesday's staff meetings with snacks, and Fika.

She looks forward to being back for the Nordic Africa Days event in September 2018!