Xaymaca Awoyungbo - University Challenge: Decolonising the Curriculum

Xaymaca turned the outcome of his research project into a documentary he has submitted to the Open City Documentary festival and shared on social media.

"Over the last 18 months, the phrase 'decolonise the curriculum' was bandied about the media. It's meaning is subjective but it is generally understood as a call to challenge curricula, symbolism and the lack of representation within education.

Due to the murder of George Floyd, prestigious institutions such as Eton College vowed to teach curricula that will and address and reveal systemic racism within society’. Despite this, only 24 out 128 universities said they were committed to decolonising the curriculum.

My documentary hence answers the question: 'How far should universities decolonise their curriculum?' Showing both sides of the argument, I interviewed Taiwo Ogunyinka of Free Black University, Katayoun Shafiee of the University of Warwick and cultural commentator, Calvin Robinson.

Ultimately, the film suggests that people on the right and left have more in common with each other than they think. If we come together to understand decolonising the curriculum and what is taught at universities, we can reach a solution. Further links: www.freeblackuni.comLink opens in a new window, dontdivideus.comLink opens in a new window"