Catherina Wilson studied African Studies at the Leiden University, where she graduated in 2012. She carried out research in Kisangani, DR Congo, and wrote a thesis entitled ‘The Congolese Yankee: Language and Identity among Youth in Kisangani’. In this work she deals with the ways youth creatively play with language in an attempt to overcome marginalization. The thesis touches upon the topics of urban youth languages and culture, identity building, and access to adulthood.

Catherina currently works at the Leiden University’s Institute of History as a PhD student for the ‘Connecting in Times of Duress’ research programme. Her sub-project is entitled ‘Rumours on the Ubangui’ and is set along the waters of the Ubangui river that forms the border between the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as in cyberspace. Broadly speaking, the research looks at the relationship between ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) and social and political change in a context of hardship and (post)conflict. More precisely, Catherina’s research focuses on information flows which include rumours and different types of discourse.

Catherina Wilson’s bibliography can be viewed here.

CTD publications by Catherina Wilson:

Articles:

• Wilson M.C. (2014), ‘Changing Definitions of Autochthony and Foreignness in Bangui’, Hot Spots, Cultural Anthropology website, 11 June 2014.

Book chapters:

• Wilson M. C. (2015), ‘Kindoubil: urban youth languages in Kisangani’ in: Nassenstein N., Hollington A. (Eds.) Youth Language Practices in Africa and Beyond. no. 105, Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

Papers:

• Wilson, M. C., ‘Painting Knowledge, Writing Art’, CTD conference, N’Djaména, 25-28 October 2017.
• Wilson, M. C., ‘Fleeing as a non-violent strategy: An engaged student becomes an engaged refugee’, ECAS, Basel. 29 June-1 July 2017.
• Wilson, M. C., ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Social Mediatised’, paper presented at the Workshop Media, elections and conflicts in Africa, Oxford, 16 November 2015.

Blogs:

• Catherina Wilson’s personal blog: Rumours on the Ubangui.
• Guest blog ‘Rumble in the Jungle: From the January 2015 riots to the #FrontCitoyen2016’ on Prof. Mirjam de Bruijn’s blog Counter Voices in Africa, 5 February 2016.