Nicholas Maple

Dr Nicholas Maple is a Post Doc Research Fellow at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Duduzile Ndlovu

Duduzile S. Ndlovu, is a postdoctoral fellow at the African Centre for Migration and Society, University of the Witwatersrand.

Kabiri Bule

Dr Kabiri Bule is a scholar in the field of migration and displacement studies, with an educational background that includes both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her research occupies a critical niche at the intersection of urban and migration studies, focusing on the profound impact of migration and human mobility on urban politics within African cities. Kabiri’s work is dedicated to exploring how these dynamics influence notions of belonging, cultural diversity, and mobility aspirations, particularly within African urban neighbourhoods that are in a state of constant flux.

Employing a rigorous quantitative approach, Bule is at the cutting edge of her field, incorporating innovative technologies and methodologies to investigate emerging migration trends across the continent. Her scholarly contributions provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding migration and its effects on urban landscapes, offering valuable insights for both academic circles and policy formulation.

Kabiri’s research not only advances academic knowledge in migration and urban studies but also serves as a vital resource for policymakers and urban planners seeking to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by human mobility in African cities.

Elizabeth Wellman

Elizabeth Iams Wellman is a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Williams College, and holds a research affiliation with The African Centre for Migration and Society at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Silindile N. Mlilo

Silindile N. Mlilo is a migration scholar, practitioner, and consultant with extensive experience in research and project management at the intersection of migration and mobility governance, xenophobia and social cohesion, youth, and policy development across Africa and Asia. She is also a part-time content creator, producer, and interviewer, committed to amplifying African voices in migration scholarship and public discourse. Silindile is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher and Project Manager at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), University of the Witwatersrand, where she leads research and monitors xenophobic discrimination in South Africa through the Xenowatch project. She is also the co-founder of Meraki Afrique, a social enterprise focused on advancing regional integration in Africa.

Silindile holds a Ph.D. in Migration and Displacement from Wits University, an MA in Advanced Development in Social Work through a consortium of European universities, including the University of Lincoln, Aalborg University, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas (University of Lisbon), and Université Paris Nanterre, an MA in Human Rights and a Bachelor of Social Work both obtained at the University of Fort Hare, respectively. Her doctoral dissertation, “Political Subjectivities in Post-colonial States: Identity and Belonging Among Botswana’s non–Tswana Migrant Descendants,” examined how postcolonial nation-building in mono-ethnic states shapes identity, belonging, and citizenship for people of migrant descent, introducing new theoretical insights into hybrid identities and everyday practices of citizenship.

Silindile is a 2024 Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellow. She is also an alumna of the Young African Leaders Programme at the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance (2022) and an Erasmus Mundus Scholar (2013 -2015). Her research interests lie at the intersection of migration, citizenship, and postcolonial statehood, with a particular focus on belonging, exclusion, and the politics of identity in Southern Africa. Beyond academia, Silindile is a podcast interviewer and is passionate about translating research into accessible and actionable formats.