Scholars in Context: Abdaljbar Ejami

New Article Submission

Thank you for your interest in Jadaliyya. We welcome all submissions. The most significant requirement is for Jadaliyya submissions to be analytically compelling and offer a perspective or argument that has not been covered at length either on Jadaliyya or elsewhere. Because of the volume of submissions, well-written pieces are prioritized. Length is flexible, 1000 to 2500 words is the average range. However, we will accept longer pieces. Once submitted, several members of the editorial committee will review your piece and one of them will inform you of the decision.
Author Details
Article Details
Select Countries
Select Keywords
Select Topics
Only RTF, Word, and Pages documents accepted.

Recommended image size: 762x800 px

Location of each image should be indicated in the text of the article via a square bracket caption that includes: (1) a description of the image; (2) the photographer/designer and source of the image. Please note we only use images you as the author have the right to use, which usually means those of your own creation or those published under Creative Commons. Alternatively, you need specific permission from the copyright holder.
Please read the Release Form and provide an electronic signature [your full name] below to confirm that you accept its terms
Required
Hyperlink words in your article if they refer to links on the internet. We encourage more, rather than less, links (try to avoid footnotes—embed them as hyperlinks if possible)

Article added successfully.

Pages Menu BETA
Jan 14, 2025 Region
Scholars in Context: Abdaljbar Ejami

Scholars in Context: Abdaljbar Ejami

By : Abdaljbar Ejami

Scholars in Context: Abdaljbar Ejami

Jadaliyya's Scholars in Context series consists of Q&As in which scholars of the Middle East describe their research and the paths they took to arrive at it. The series provides a platform for these scholars to highlight the significance of their work, identify the audiences they seek to reach, and outline their future research trajectories, giving readers an in-depth look at the latest research in a given field.

Jadaliyya (J): What is the main focus of your current research and how does it connect to or depart from your previous work?

Abdaljbar Ejami (AE): I am currently working on three issues. The first is about the failure of transitional peacebuilding in Sudan. I am precisely concerned with decolonizing agendas of the Eastern Track Peace that was reserved for Eastern Sudan, the strategically geopolitical region on the Red Sea and across the Horn of Africa. In this research, I analyze the complexities of conflicting socioeconomic and political interests at the local, national, regional, Gulf/Middle Eastern, and international levels. 

The second is on the triangle of knowledge, governmentality, and governance within the colonial and postcolonial Sudanese context. My research attempts to develop the topics and analysis in my PhD dissertation, which was titled: “Colonial and Postcolonial Politics of Religion and Ethnicity: Historical Anthropology of Eastern Sudan Marginalization”. Thirdly, I am intending to revise, edit, and publish this thesis in a book format.
My research areas of interest cover a wide range of interconnected issues, including religion; ethnicity; the politics of land and identity; citizenship; inequality and marginalization; conflicts; and the decoloniality of neoliberal peacebuilding.

J: What particular topics, issues, and literatures does it address?

AE: My research areas of interest cover a wide range of interconnected issues, including religion; ethnicity; the politics of land and identity; citizenship; inequality and marginalization; conflicts; and the decoloniality of neoliberal peacebuilding. The analysis of these topics is based on a combination of Marxist and postcolonial perspectives that dig into the historical, socioeconomic, and political dynamics of those interrelated themes. My research analysis is fundamentally situated on the Foucauldian concept of “governmentality,” developed by Mahmood Mamdani as a sophisticated conceptualization to understand the colonial theory of indirect rule, the Sudanese branch of which is called the Native Administration.

J: What brought you to this work? What was the source of inspiration?

AE: My inspiration came from my academic occupation with postcolonial studies and theoretical debates, particularly with Marxists. Among the prominent works that inspire me are two seminal works. The first work that has reshaped the way I think and had a remarkable influence on the analysis of my PhD thesis is Mamdani’s book, Citizen and subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of late colonialism. Mamdani provides a solid conceptualization of the colonial mechanism of governmentality as a device to “define to define” and to fabricate indirect rule through labelling subjects across their racial, ethnic, and religious identities. The second work that has opened the door for me to the issue of decolonizing knowledge is Anthropology and The Colonial Encounter, edited by Talal Assad. The book heighted the well-established relations between anthropology and colonialism under the British Administration.

J: What audiences would you like to reach, and what kind of impact would you like your research and writing to have?

AE: I aim for my research to reach to a diverse audience among readers and researchers. More specifically, I would like to reach anthropologists and sociologists with whom I share academic interests around ethnicity, the politics of land and identity, inequality, conflicts, and the decoloniality of neoliberal peacebuilding

J: What other projects are you working on now?

AE: I am also working on a project about the transformations of the Beja customary institutions for conflict resolution, with a focus on the galad. The work seeks to engage critically with the existing body of social knowledge that I argue has produced the formulation of the Beja customs as “native” mechanisms used to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts. The conceptualization is based on lengthy ethnography in Eastern Sudan (2017-2023) and includes the anthropological analysis of Beja poetry, proverbs, and written and historical ethnographic accounts, the importance of which has been reduced, if not totally ignored, by scholars.
Dec 17, 2024 Lebanon
Shada Bokir By :
Shada Bokir

Scholars in Context: Shada Bokir

Scholars in Context: Shada Bokir 

Jadaliyya's Scholars in Context series consists of Q&As in which scholars of the Middle East describe their research and the paths they took to arrive at it. The series provides a platform for these scholars to highlight the significance of their work, identify the audiences they seek to reach, and outline their future research trajectories, giving readers an in-depth look at the latest research in a given field.

Jadaliyya (J): What is the main focus of your current research and how does it connect to or depart from your previous work?

Shada Bokir (SB): My current research examines the intersections of gender, power, and cultural identity in Middle Eastern contexts, with a focus on Yemen. This work builds on my foundation in post-colonial literature by extending the theoretical concepts of identity, representation, and resistance into anthropological inquiries.

Previously, my research was centered on literary analyses, particularly exploring how post-colonial texts negotiate cultural and political power. Over time, my focus has evolved toward incorporating social anthropology to analyze how these dynamics manifest in real-world cultural practices and everyday lives. This interdisciplinary approach connects literature and lived experience, enriching both fields by bridging the textual with the sociocultural.
A significant focus is on the lived experiences of Yemeni women, as seen through visual anthropology and literary narratives, examining how societal norms shape and constrain gender roles while also providing spaces for resistance.

J: What particular topics, issues, and literature does it address?

SB: My research addresses themes such as gendered power dynamics, cultural resistance, and identity construction in post-colonial and Middle Eastern contexts. A significant focus is on the lived experiences of Yemeni women, as seen through visual anthropology and literary narratives, examining how societal norms shape and constrain gender roles while also providing spaces for resistance.

I engage with key works in post-colonial theory (such as those by Edward Said and Homi Bhabha), feminist anthropology (Lila Abu-Lughod), and Middle Eastern studies (Suad Joseph). My work also incorporates visual anthropology to study how material culture and visual representation, such as photography, construct and negotiate social identities. This interdisciplinary framework allows me to address complex cultural and social issues comprehensively.

J: What brought you to this work? What was the source of inspiration?

SB: My journey into this field is deeply rooted in my experiences as a Yemeni scholar and my engagement with the underexplored narratives of Middle Eastern and Yemeni cultures. Growing up in Yemen, I witnessed the multifaceted ways gender, tradition, and power intersect in everyday life. These observations inspired my early academic focus on post-colonial literature as a means to understand cultural resistance and representation.

Later, as I delved into social anthropology, I was drawn to the ways anthropology complements literary studies by grounding theoretical insights in ethnographic realities. My research continues to be fueled by the need to amplify underrepresented voices, particularly those of women in Yemen and the broader Middle East, in both academic and public discourse.

J: What audiences would you like to reach, and what kind of impact would you like your research and writing to have?

SB: I aim to reach interdisciplinary academic audiences in fields such as gender studies and Middle Eastern anthropology, as well as advocates focused on cultural representation and gender equity. Beyond academia, I hope my work resonates with broader public audiences by challenging stereotypes and fostering nuanced understandings of Middle Eastern societies. Through my research, I seek to empower individuals and communities whose narratives have historically been marginalized, contributing to a more inclusive understanding of cultural identity, gender, and resistance.

J: What other projects are you working on now?

SB: Currently, I am focusing on researching the Hadhrami tribes of Yemen and their historical role in conflict resolution during and after the British colonial period. This project examines the complex interplay of tribal governance, negotiation, and mediation practices that shaped local power structures in the region. Of particular interest is the role of women in these processes, where despite prevailing patriarchal structures, they often played key roles in maintaining social cohesion and facilitating peace. 

J: Your background combines both practical experience and academic work; how do you reconcile those two distinct worlds in your research?

SB: The synergy between practical experience and academic inquiry is central to my work. My years of teaching, coupled with fieldwork in Yemen and beyond, have grounded my research in real-world cultural dynamics while providing a space to apply theoretical frameworks.

For instance, my experience with Yemeni communities has informed my understanding of gendered cultural practices, which I analyze through the dual lenses of literary and anthropological scholarship. Similarly, my work in visual anthropology is enriched by my firsthand engagement with material culture and the individuals creating it. This interplay allows me to produce research that is both theoretically robust and deeply connected to lived realities.

J: What is your advice for rising academics or those starting their career?

SB: For emerging scholars, I recommend embracing interdisciplinarity and allowing personal passion to shape academic pursuits. Be open to exploring how your unique background and experiences can enrich your research. In fields like anthropology and post-colonial studies, it is essential to remain critically engaged with the subjects of your work while also being reflexive about your positionality as a researcher.

Moreover, seek opportunities to connect your research to real-world issues. Bridging theory and practice not only strengthens your work but also expands its impact. Finally, resilience and adaptability are key—academic careers often require navigating uncertainty, but staying true to your intellectual curiosity and commitment will sustain you through challenges.