Thread: Day 2 is off to a great start. We are honoured and delighted to host the second sitting of such an important and necessary convening. Please follow this thread for all of today's updates. You can also join us here: http://bit.ly/3jiScqA  #HSGdecoloniseafrica

We've opened with a warm and vibrant welcome from our event MC Tanya Charles. Here she fondly greets all attendees from various countries and reminds us of how we can further engage on social media. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

We begin with a recap session by our conference convenors @shehnazmunshi & @lancelouskieter. They are passionately addressing attendees & thanking all for the powerful & transformative conversations that are yet to come. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

Here @shehnazmunshi reminds us all that this convening belongs to all in it. & the power to change & decolonise Health systems for Africa lies within us all. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

The convenors now share the work of an amazing digital weaver who artfully summarised the key concepts and subjects discussed in Day 1 of the convening. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

Now, our convenor @lancelouskieter reminds attendees on how this convening also provides an opportunity for all to acknowledge the knowledge of all in the room. This is a collaborative space. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

Poet, Storyteller and Facilitator Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa now sets the mood and prepares attendees for engaging conversations with a reading of @lebomashile 's poem Invocation. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

"Sometimes in order to go forward, we need to go back, to pick the things that we need. We also need to dream into the future so that we know where we are going.
We are here to be understood and to understand." Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa @namutebik #HSGdecoloniseafrica

"Our diversity as a continent is the beauty of this continent. We have more languages spoken in this continent than spoken in any other. How do we use that to our advantage, rather than use it to divide each other? " Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa @namutebik #HSGdecoloniseafrica

Session 2 has now begun with the topic "Creating an African Project: Rethinking the configuration of knowledge to advance African health and health systems". This session is facilitated by Post-Doctoral Social Scientist Dr. Kui Muraya.

Our first fire starter speaker is Clara Affun-Adegbulu - a PhD Candidate from the University of Antwerp and she begins by reminding us that before we talk about epistemologies, we need to take a step back. @ClaraOlu

" What do we see as African ways of Being? How can we, in creating and recreating, ensure that we don’t come up with new hierarchies where we make certain ways of being as more important than others?" @ClaraOlu #HSGDecoloniseAfrica #HSGAfricanFutures

Our next speaker Dr Irene Akua Agyepong has begun by stressing the importance of a better understanding of what oppressive systems are and mean. We need to differentiate between colonialism, neocolonialism and coloniality @IreneAgyepong #HSGDecoloniseAfrica #HSGAfricanFutures

Here @IreneAgyepong shows data on how many papers are being produced in relation to HSPR within Africa. How do we improve our existing knowledge base? #HSGDecoloniseAfrica #HSGAfricanFutures

How do we change the status quo? How do we change people’s problematic understandings African Knowledge? How do we begin to re-story our story? How does our education system perpetuate the status quo? Here @IreneAgyepong offers her thoughts:
#HSGDecoloniseAfrica

Our next speaker @SimuChigudu begins by sharing how the practice of anticipating catastrophe in Africa does important and dangerous work, politically and socially. How do we look more carefully about what happens on the ground? #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

"These practices of anticipating catastrophe enable leaders to gloss over our agency and then react in repressive ways. So what should we do? What are the opportunities and possibilities?" - @SimuChigudu #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

Our final fire starter speaker of the day is Director of the United Nations University International Institute for Global HealthIs Professor Pascale Allotey. She has elected to frame her interventions by posing a series of questions. @PascaleAllotey #HSGdecoloniseafrica

"How brave are we in the quest for the disruption of coloniality? How disruptive are we prepared to be? What does it mean to still need to extend your hand for help but still dictate the conditions of that assistance? " @PascaleAllotey #HSGDecoloniseAfrica #HSGAfricanFutures

Attendees are now being treated to an immersive & relaxing meditative exercise, not only as a recharge but also as an integral part of the convening. Nomzamo from the Toolbox in Durban is doing a stellar job at helping attendees unwind from the comfort of their own homes/spaces.

We have now split into smaller groups for our breakout sessions. Here attendees discuss and dissect the below two questions:
#HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

Here, convening attendee @Anamajengo shares on how her breakout room group tackled the questions and illustrates the scale & necessity of this conversation. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

"We should not centre the colonial point of departure but re-imagine outside of the bounds of the colonial project
" #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

"We often speak in the abstract, but what does this look like every day: community-based programs, working in less hospi-centric ways, who gets to decide the health agendas?"
#HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

"How do we have collaborative processes that don’t shy away contestation but allow for many forms of participation in policy-making processes. " #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

In keeping with the convenings unconventional & interesting proceedings, attendees are now being treated to an African musical journey facilitated by @shehnazmunshi. #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

As we wrap up the day, convenor @shehnazmunshi shares music by prolific composer, librettist & musician @neomuyanga #HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures

Thank you for joining us on Day 2 & we can't wait to be with you tomorrow. You can register to join us here: http://bit.ly/3jiScqA 
#HSGdecoloniseafrica #HSGafricanfutures