On 4 June 2026, members of the Lekgotla La Batho Research Project and researchers from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs participated in a workshop on Bosadi Theorisations and African Indigenous Laws.

Since its start, the project has aimed to produce recognised research outputs by integrating insights from both community and academic sources. As an engaged research project, it seeks to promote decolonial knowledge through collaborative methods with communities of practice. In 2026, guided by Unisa’s Division for Community Engagement and Outreach, the project created an impactful documentary on African indigenous laws to challenge traditional knowledge practices.

The workshop also contributed to finalising a training manual for traditional leaders in South Africa. This draft manual, grounded in community knowledge practices, is being developed to align with current African traditions in traditional courts, Bosadi epistemologies and traditional leadership institutions.

This workshop aimed to develop a clear methodology for integrating community knowledge into Bosadi theorisations, thereby enriching academic research with community insights. It is important for researchers at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs to actively involve women from diverse backgrounds in developing sustainable, ethical research methods.

This process seeks to redefine key elements of Bosadi and Women's transformations. In this exchange, practical definitions of Bosadi—including its values, norms, cultural practices and African epistemological views—are explored within the context of Women/Bosadi theorisations. The main aim of these community-engaged research initiatives is to produce impactful outcomes, reflect community knowledge from their perspective and create opportunities for communities to participate as research stakeholders alongside Unisa, especially the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.

African indigenous laws and practices play a vital role in African legal studies, especially in decolonising African legal identity through community perspectives. The research workshop fostered active engagement with interpretations of the traditional justice system within the constitutional framework. This breakout session further examined how African law courts (such as lekgotla, dikgoro, inkundla, huvo) operate.

Discussions also covered the principles and guidelines of the current Traditional Courts Act 9 of 2022, with a view to incorporating community voices into ongoing deliberations in accordance with the Act's regulations. Insights from community perspectives enrich the inclusive, collaborative efforts of the Lekgotla La Batho-engaged research project. The goal is to share research and knowledge exchange practices rooted in community and ethical principles, aligned with Unisa's values. The results not only promote decolonised, community-centred re-reflection practices but also demonstrate the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs' dedication to leveraging community knowledge to address Africa’s challenges and beyond. 

* By Macdonald Rammala, Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs