Africa Society

Position statement by Oxford University Africa Society

AfriSoc- Connecting change agents passionate about Africa at Oxford - Read more here.

The Oxford University Africa Society (AfriSoc) is a student organization encompassing students from African countries, of African heritage, as well as other students interested in African affairs at the University of Oxford. As a student society that has been in existence for over 60 years, the AfriSoc has played a significant role in championing for reforms within the institution and shaping the history of African students and their experience at Oxford. With this history in mind, and as a platform that seeks to provide a voice for African students at Oxford, we are mandated by our members to hold the University account on key issues affecting them at the institution. 

The University of Oxford has unequivocally committed to address issues of racism, inclusivity and diversity within the institution. The bitter irony is that the University is rife with evidence that suggests otherwise. These range from iconography with noxious histories like Cecil Rhodes that the university still holds dearly and reverently, a Eurocentric curriculum that deliberately omits crucial parts of history with regards to colonialism, oppression and discrimination, and a poorly represented Black and minority population among both the students and faculty. Even with its statement of commitment to addressing such, the university has been reluctant in providing concrete commitments towards holistically addressing these issues and instead, have chosen mere tokenism and perfunctory gestures. 

In the wake of recent events including the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of Breonna Taylor, Simeon Francis and George Floyd, the Rhodes Must Fall movement here at Oxford, the inhumane treatment of Oxford Union member, Mr. Ebenezar Azamati, at the Oxford Union Chambers and a protracted COVID-19 pandemic that continues to worsen this inequality, African students at Oxford would like to see a more decisive, ethical and effective stand on these issues by the University. An important step AfriSoc believes the University needs to take now more than ever before.  

Diversity, equity and access 

The University of Oxford still remains largely and unapologetically white with the proportion of Black students currently standing at a paltry 3.2%. For undergraduate students, less than a third of colleges at Oxford admit more than 5 Black students in any academic year. As a student society, we are used to hearing statements like, ‘I am the only Black student in my JCR or MCR’ from our members. Similar statements are also said about their experiences within their academic programs. Disappointingly, we feel the university has been reluctant to improve access for minority groups through streamlining the admission process, providing scholarships and mentorship.  

Even for the students who are already within Oxford, we have constantly had fellow students report that they cannot access resources including mental health care purely because of the limited number of Black counsellors and therapist within the institution. With only a handful of Black professors within the faculty, Black students have to constantly struggle navigating through the so called ‘white space’ that is Oxford as they try to find mentors and other forms of support system out of Oxford. This is not to say that other professors cannot provide mentorship, but such mentorship tends to lack the breadth and depth members gain from having a professor who shares common identities to them.  

Colonial legacy and Inclusion 

AfriSoc has been in full support of the Rhodes Must Fall movement here at Oxford since its inception in 2015, with the founding members of the movement being part of AfriSoc. It is disturbing that despite making numerous recommendations to the University on the removal of statues with toxic histories of imperialism, promotion of diversity and inclusivity, the University has not done much yet. If Oxford is to stay true to its commitment to promote inclusivity then this should start with ensuring that African students, do not have to be constantly reminded of the dark, violent and traumatic history inflicted on them and their heritage because Oxford chooses to glorify imperialists like Cecil Rhodes.  

Perhaps a typical example of how the university has failed in promoting inclusivity, accessibility and antiracism is the recent case of Ebenezer Azamati, where a visually impaired African student at Oxford was violently thrown out of the Oxford Union chambers in the most inhumane manner. Worse still, the Oxford Union further punished Mr. Azamati by stripping him of his membership. It is alarming and very unfortunate that AfriSoc had to go to the streets in demonstration against this incident. More so, the protest and Azamati’s independent pursuit of justice, underscores the amount of labour that is constantly required by African bodies and allies in order to get institutions to respond and enact just, fair and inclusive policy approaches. While we are glad that Mr. Azamati won the legal case against the Union, it is fair to worry that there are several other students who undergo similar or worse treatment within Oxford but are not lucky to have witnesses who speak up or a record the incident.