'Kudla Umndeni Kwothamele Izibankwa': Reflections of an African Scholar

This paper details my efforts as an Indigenous African scholar to indigenize the research process -- from conception to publication -- across three data collection sites in South Africa. To respect the vulnerability and culture of the participants, Zulu and Xhosa cultural values like "hlonipha" (respect) and "ubuntu" (humanness) were incorporated into the research process. This paper also details my reflections on positionality, especially the sense of in-betweenness that came with a fluid sense of belonging and identity while researching my own culture. While there are certain advantages that a cultural insider possesses in terms of access to closed-off and historically oppressed communities, these privileges also come with the added responsibility of portraying these communities with the dignity and respect they deserve. This paper further discusses the pragmatic realities of decolonized research and offers insights and discussion for other indigenous researchers hoping to conduct research in their home communities.