GSSC Seminar Series
11 February 2025
God(s), People and the Narratives of Kakamega Rainforest Ecosystem: Initial Thoughts on a “viable?” Participatory Action Research Methodology
Antony Osome, University of Cologne
12:00-13:00
In this study, I present the initial ideas of my methodological framework to explore the interplay between religious syncretism, eco-consciousness, and the conservation of Sacred Spaces within the Kakamega Rainforest Ecosystem (KRE) in Western Kenya. Anchored in an action research paradigm, the proposed approach combines in-depth ethnography and participatory storytelling through collaborative filmmaking, as well as ecological advocacy and action. The aim is to produce both scholarly insights, sustainable ecological interventions and cinematic narratives that contribute to local and global discourses on biodiversity conservation. My key focus herein is on the role of religious syncretism in shaping eco-consciousness and how storytelling, particularly through collaborative filmmaking, can serve as a tool for knowledge preservation. This approach marks a shift from traditional folkloric traditions to cinematic storytelling as the evolving medium for transmitting ecological knowledge across generations. The methodology thus involves participatory mapping and documentation of sacred spaces, situating them historically and culturally, and addressing the challenges of preserving oral knowledge. By employing a bottom-up approach, this study amplifies indigenous voices to inform both academic inquiry and practical conservation efforts through collaborative ethnographic documentation and filmmaking. Ultimately, I perceive that the framework will in the end help demonstrate how storytelling, as both cultural practice and medium, can preserve sacred ecological knowledge and inspire collective conservation actions within KRE.
Antony Osome is a communication and film scholar with extensive experience in audio-visual production, development communication, and behavior change communication. He has served as a junior lecturer and early-career researcher, focusing on emerging storytelling trends in contemporary rural African contexts, as well as ethnographic storytelling and the commons. Additionally, he is a filmmaker and screenplay writer. He holds an MA in Film Studies from Kenyatta University and a BA in Communication and Media Technology from Maseno University, both in Kenya. His current research interests center on eco-narratives ethnology and the concept of Ethno-kino, an emerging field within environmental visual anthropology.