Carla: 

“Living Decoloniality”, practical examples of the de-colonial re-existence through the aid sector, a podcast by Carla Vitantonio with the support of the Center for Humanitarian Leadership.

Welcome back to “Living Decoloniality”, a podcast that collects and amplifies practical experiences of decoloniality through the air sector. I am Carla Vitantonio and in the background you hear sounds and noises from my home in Havana, Cuba. Today I have the honor to share with you the details of my interview with Charles Kojo Vandyck. 

But before letting my guests speak with his own words, that story I want to tell. This story took place a few years ago. It was the beginning of my journey through decoloniality, and I was trying to build my theoretical framework, while interacting with people I would casually meet through my research. One of these encounters offered me the possibility to participate in a consultancy for a big donor, who was willing in its own words to decolonize itself. We did a beautiful piece of research, the first series of research of my life, and we ended up with a report which included, obviously, recommendations. One of those was staff training.  We underlined the need to change the mindset of all people working in the agency, as the only way to ensure sustainable change. Our donor was confused, upset, even frustrated with its recommendation, and in fact they never started training plan for their stuff. But this was for me the first time I approached the idea of decolonizing one’s mind, before even trying to decolonize practices. 

When, following Kehano and Maldonado Torres, who by the way draw inspiration from Franz Fanon, we speak of coloniality of being, we are also envisioning the possibility to decolonize ourselves. In other words, we want to work on ourselves, in order to set ourselves free from certain beliefs, patterns, biases, that are proper of that colonial, patriarchal, racist, and discriminatory culture and mindset.  And when we say that, we also implicitly say that the decolonial turn for the mind is something we all should undergo, if we want to change the sector. Because most of our upbringing has been influenced by colonial beliefs and patterns. And this is when Charles does enter the picture. I have been following him on LinkedIn for a while, but did not dare entering in contact. Then one day I told Josh, from the Center for Humanitarian Leadership, that I was looking for someone willing to share with me their decolonial process, and Josh suggested Charles. I will let him speak for himself through the interview we had while he was in his office in Accra, and I was ,as usual, in my living room in Havana. 

Charles, would you like to introduce yourself for “Living Decoloniality”?

Charles:  

Thank you Carla for this wonderful opportunity to be on your podcast. First, my name is Charles Kojo Vandyck, of course is a Dutch name, but this is a story for another podcast. I’m a passionate advocate for social justice, born in Ghana. My life journey has been a testament to resilience, and empowerment. I have been deeply influenced by the transformative power of community and social capital. I have traversed diverse African landscapes, from Nigeria and Botswana, to Zimbabwe and Ghana. with each living it is a unique imprint, on my perspective. In my pursuit, of living decoloniality, I found my unconventional path, leading  me into the ground of development and public service. Having witnessed shared struggles, and distinct developmental trajectories across multiple African countries. 

I felt a calling within the public service sector. So my purpose, I believe, crystalized to create a space where I could authentically express myself and contribute to improving the quality of life for people and communities. While my academic background in banking and finance served as a stepping stone, it wasn’t my true calling. I craved for a space where I could align my skills with my passion, for making a meaningful impact on societal issues. This realization set me on a journey where I actively contributed to initiatives, including empowering activists and organizations, championing social justice, humanitarian causes, and environmental sustainability. In my current role, as the Head capacity development unit, at the West African Social Society Institute, I swear multiple hats. These roles provide me with a holistic view of organizational development, movement building, network development, strategic thinking, resourcing, and partnership building. So, at the core of my leadership philosophy is an unwavering commitment to a people centered, and intentional approach. I firmly believe that empowering individuals to become exemplary leaders is the linchpin to catalyze positive change. In a world where systems produce what they recognize, I advocate for intentionality in every action. Recognizing that deliberate efforts yield the intended results. So “living decoloniality” for me is not just a concept. It’s a profound commitment etched into the fabric of my personal and professional life. It’s a relentless journey of actively challenging and transforming structures that perpetuate colonial ideology, contributing to the ongoing narrative of fostering a more equitable and just society. My story is one of purpose, empowerment, and a dedication to reshaping the narrative of societal impact. 

Carla: 

I would like to know what triggered your reflection and action. I call it the decoloniality of being. Could you please share with us your experience? 

Charles: 

My journey has been all about shaking off the lingering effects of colonialism. And embracing a path of self discovery and change. Growing up in Nigeria, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Ghana, was a whirlwind of cultures, each with its own story tied to the aftermath of colonial rule. It got me thinking about how those historical threads still weave into our lives today. The big moment came when I realized that my academic journey in banking and finance wasn’t aligning with my real passion, making a positive impact on society. So I decided to take a detour and dive into the world of development and public service. This shift led me to question the structures influenced by colonial legacies. It wasn’t just a professional move. It became a personal mission to confront and break down the remnants of colonialism in everything I touched. As I traveled around the globe, engaging with communities from Africa to places like Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and beyond. I saw firsthand the struggles for justice, environmental sustainability and cultural reclamation. It hit me. Colonialism’s grip is still strong, and we need to do something about it. My role that works in being part of the African’s rising movement and working on the reimagining ING’s system change process put me at the crossroads of systemic transformation and personal growth. It was a wake up call to reevaluate my role in these systems, ditch ingrained colonial perspectives and embrace an approach that puts people first. The idea of the coloniality of being became my compass, it made me question my decisions, and leadership philosophy. It became a driving force pushing me to challenge not just external structures, but also my own biases. And ways of doing things. In a nutshell, my journey is all about recognizing the deep seated colonial influences, shaping our world and committing to a deliberate process of decolonization. It’s a journey that’s not just about me, but about reshaping the spaces I move in. I am excited to keep pushing for a more equitable and just society. 

Carla: 

Can you share with us at least one of your practices? 

Charles: 

So in April 2023, I went to represent the organization I worked for, that is the West Africa Civil Society Institute, and the ringo initiating the reimagining INGO systems change work. At a meeting hosted by ADESSO, it was the “pledge for change” meeting. During the flight to Nairobi from Accra, I had a bit of a, what we call, epiphany or some sort of realization. 

I started to ponder about the lack of platforms for African development practitioners and activists to authentically share their stories and perspectives. That is when I came up with the idea of a podcast, the “Alternative Convos” podcast. And basically what I am seeking to do with that podcast is to foster thought provoking conversations. And capture and tell stories within the realm of international development. So for me, the nomenclature, “Alternative Convos”, kind of articulates the mission to facilitate engaging, thought provoking, and unforgettable discussion. So at its core, this podcast mission is basically aligned with the transformation of Africa and the broader global discourse. I am hoping by this podcast to provide a platform for passionate activists, seasoned practitioners and innovative thinkers. I’m basically seeking to counter the historical dominance of a select few in shaping international development narratives. Thereby, addressing the resulting narrow understandings that have continued to prevail. So I believe that this podcast contribution to the process of decolonizing minds and practices manifests in various dimensions. So by intentionally featuring a diverse range of voices, the podcast challenges the historical monopolization of narratives, within the international development discourse. This deliberate inclusivity seeks to broaden perspectives and deepen understanding within a diverse development context. Through active engagement with stories from marginalized groups, marginalized activists and persons, the podcast is designed to challenge preconceived notions and biases. Fostering a more nuanced than open minded approach to international development. So a key focus is on how this platform can be leveraged to empower local voices and narratives, recognizing the agency and expertise of individuals and communities within their own development processes. It seeks to shift, you know, in a deliberate manner, challenges, also the traditional top down development models, emphasizing a more inclusive and participatory approach. 

So there are very interesting episodes. So, for example, episodes featuring individuals like Taye Balogun, you know, underscore the potential of culture and creativity as tools for sustainable development. I also had a very interesting episode with Chernor Bah, where he focused on the need for us to decolonize our practices, decolonize our policies, and how to go about that in very practical ways. So I believe that through meaningful discussions with practitioners, activists, and innovators, this podcast is going to foster a sense of collaboration and partnership. It’s going to break down silos, and promote corporation, hoping that this corporation will be elevated. Drawing on diverse perspectives and expertise. So for me, in my view, the alternative conference podcast is a catalyst for decolonizing minds and practices. 

Carla: 

Listening to Charles, I identified at least two themes. The first is that leadership is also shaped by colonial patterns, and we need to work on proposing new alternative models for leadership in our sector. The second is that according to Charles, there are already alternative narratives in international development and humanitarian assistance. Narratives that challenge the mainstream colonial one, and there are people that propose them. Often, however, the way they are streamlined or not is also following colonial rules. Multiplying platforms and creating spaces is something Charles is doing. You will find the link to his podcast in the resources section of this episode. You will also find the link to a list of resources produced by Charles in his journey through decoloniality. 

You listen to “Living Decoloniality”, practical examples of the colonial re-existence through the aid sector. I am Carla Vitantonio and you can reach me through my Spotify and Spreaeker channels or through my Instagram, Carla Vitantonio.This podcast was deliberately recorded with minimum technical equipment trying to preserve as much as possible the feelings and intentions of those who participated. If you liked it, please subscribe and share it through your network. “Leaving Decoloniality” was produced in partnership with the Center for Humanitarian Leadership. 

The logo is a present from Eugenio Nittolo.