Chika Esiobu

Chika Esiobu, PhD

Faculty - Undergraduate
Headshot of Chika Esiobu
Visiting Assistant Professor of African Studies
Email
cesiobu@soka.edu
Phone
949-269-5532

I have lived and worked in four countries spread across three continents, and through my travels, I have learned to deeply value community and cooperation over individualism and competition.

My work is grounded in the exploration of indigenous knowledge as a foundational pathway to individual, community, and societal transformation and planetary renewal. My research interests in indigenous knowledge are diverse and include traditional medicine, ecological knowledge, agroecology, indigenous education, and culture.

My TED Talk, “How Africa Can Use Its Traditional Knowledge to Make Progress,” has garnered critical acclaim. I have been privileged to share my insights at platforms such as Yale University, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the London School of Economics, and the African Union.

I have conducted indigenous knowledge-based research in parts of Africa in collaboration with global organizations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Development Research Center Canada, and the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). I currently hold a teaching position at Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California.

For more information on my work, please visit www.chikaesiobu.com.

  • Ph.D. in African Studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
  • M.A. in International Relations, University of Warwick
  • B.Sc. in Government and Public Administration, Abia State University

  • Approaches to Indigenous knowledge (INTS 290.02) 

  • Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ENVST 290.02)

  • Traditional Medicine around the World ((LRNCLSTR 200-06)

  • Ancient and Medieval African History (INTS 290.01)

  • Modes of Inquiry (INQUIRY 100)

  • Introduction to Contemporary Africa (INTS. 390.1)

  • Introduction to International Relations (INTS 111.01) 

  • Social Entrepreneurship for Global Impact (LRNCLSTR 200-12)

  • Indigenous Knowledge
  • Traditional Ecological Knowledge
  • Traditional Medicine
  • Agroecology
  • Education and decoloniality in Africa
  • Health and decoloniality in Africa

Journal Articles (Peer-reviewed)

  • Esiobu, C. (2025). “Anchoring Sustainability Education in Indigenous African Philosophy: The Case of Ubuntu.” The Journal of Oriental Studies vol. 35. Forthcoming.
  • Esiobu, C. et al. (2023). “Critical Review of the United States Government’s Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Indigenous Knowledge: The Department of Education in Perspective.” Fourth World Journal 23 (1) pp. 124-132.
  • Esiobu, C. et al. (2021). “Marginalization of Indigenous Knowledge in African Education: The Case of Rwandan Traditional Medicinal Treatments for Livestock.” African Innovation and Research OPEN AIR. Working Paper 2.
  • Esiobu, C. et al. (2019). “Rural Women Economic Empowerment, Indigenous Fermented Milk Production, and the Challenges of Modernity.” Indigenous Knowledge: Other Ways of Knowing (3) 5, 119-142.
  • Esiobu, C. et al. (2018). “Indigenous Beverage Production and Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Rwanda.” Indigenous Knowledge: Other Ways of Knowing (3) 5, 1-25.
  • Esiobu, C. et al. (2018). “Indigenous Vegetable Production and Rural Women Economic Empowerment in Africa: Reality, Prospects, and Challenges in Rwanda.” Indigenous Knowledge: Other Ways of Knowing (3) 3, 133-156.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2017). “The Rise of Homegrown Ideas and Grassroots Voices: New Directions in Social Policy in Rwanda.” United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Working Paper 2017 (6), 1-31.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2015). “Home-grown and Grassroots-based Strategies for Determining Inequality Towards Policy Action: Rwanda’s Ubudehe Approach in Perspective.” United Nations University World Institute for Development Research Working Paper Series 2015/008.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). “Zikism: The Fourth Pillar, Indigenous Knowledge and Africa’s Advancement.” Journal of African Philosophy (10) 1, 1-26.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). “Indigenous Knowledge, Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment in Rwanda: The Girinka Approach.” Journal of Pan African Studies (6)10, 241-263.
  • Schendel, R., Mazimhaka J. & Ezeanya C. (2013). “Higher Education for Development in Rwanda.” International Higher Education Winter #70, 19-21.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2013). “Contending Issues of Intellectual Property Rights and Africa’s Indigenous Pharmacology.” Journal of Pan African Studies (6)5, 24-43.
  • Ezeanya, C. & Satya, M. (2012). “Indigenous Textbooks and Case Studies as Effective Tools in Business and Management Education: A Comparative Analysis of Indian Versus African Business Literature.” International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences (2)10, 396-410.

Recent Essays and Op-eds

  • Esiobu, C. (2025, August 8). “Community Wisdom, Corporate Profit: Who Owns Indigenous Knowledge?” Knowledge that Sustains (6).
  • Esiobu, C. (2025, August 1). “On Meat, Markets and Community.” Knowledge that Sustains (5).
  • Esiobu, C. (2025, July 25). “Brazil’s Indigenous People, Bolsonaro, and the Rest of Us.” Knowledge that Sustains (4).
  • Esiobu, C. (2025, July 17). “Reclaiming Mental Wellness Through Ubuntu.” Knowledge that Sustains (3).
  • Esiobu, C. (2025, July 10). “Rethinking Civilization: The Forgotten Wisdom of the Blackfoot.” Knowledge that Sustains (2).
  • Esiobu, C. (2025, July 3). “Europe’s Overtourism Protests and the Voices of Indigenous People.” Knowledge that Sustains (1).
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, November 15). “COP 29 Should Adopt Indigenous Wisdom to Combat Overfishing.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, November 7). “COP 29: African Countries Must Prioritise Ghana’s Galamsey War.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, November 4). “Single Use Plastic, Disposable People, and the Drive Towards a Discardable Planet.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, October 21). “Ali Mazrui: Ten Years After.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, August 6). “Baking With Cassava Flour: Some Health and Economic Benefits for African Countries.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, June 14). “Korea’s Living National Treasures: A Key Topic Omitted at the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, May 19). “Small-Scale Production of Dry and Condensed Milk in East Africa for Export to West Africa: Exploring Potentials and Strategies.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, March 25). “Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o’s Past and His Son’s Present Trauma: The Illusion of Social Media as Community.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, March 11). “Africa: 140 Years After the Scramble at Berlin.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2024, February 13). “The Disappearance of Africa’s Indigenous Cattle and the Dangers of a Single Breed.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2023, November 29). “From Economic Growth to Rising Suicide Rates: The Urgency of an Ubuntu-Centred Ideology for Africa.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2023, October 24). “Protecting African Values by Emphasizing Community Rights.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2023, October 10). “Crafting an Education System for Africa’s Liberation.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, November 28). “Privatization of Education and the Trauma of School Fees Payment on African Societies.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, November 15). “Pebbles, Swords and Conquering Giants: Indigenous Knowledge and Africa’s Accelerated Advancement.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, September 22). “Decolonizing Africa's Taste Buds Towards Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, June 16). “Beauty, Health, Exfoliative and Environmental Benefits of the African Traditional Bath Sponge.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, April 21). “Making Ethnic Studies Compulsory in African Schools: A Blueprint.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, March 14). “The WTO Under Okonjo-Iweala: Challenges of Access to Medicine for Africa.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, March 4). “NATO, Russia, and Africa: Cold War Lessons from the Non-Aligned Movement.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, January 26). “‘You Shall Lend to Many Nations, But Shall Not Borrow’: Biblical Truths on Revenue Generation for Africa’s National Advancement.” PanAfrican Review.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022, January 17). “Africa Should Not Have Infrastructure It Cannot Build or Maintain.” PanAfrican Review.

Books and Book Chapters (Peer-reviewed)

  • Esiobu, C. (2026). “African Indigenous Knowledges.” In The Oxford Handbook of Education in Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Forthcoming.
  • Esiobu, C. (2026). “Bantu Migrations and Economic Transformations: Mobility, Settlement Patterns, and Resource Economies in African History.” In Palgrave Handbook of African Economic History. New York: Palgrave. Forthcoming.
  • Esiobu, C. (2023). “Indigenous Knowledge Based Policy Action in Africa: Lessons from Rwanda.” In Gudhlanga, E.S., Chirimuuta, C. & Makaudze, G. (Eds.) Re-thinking Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Contemporary Global Knowledge Discourse: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. Zimbabwe Open University Press.
  • Esiobu, C. (2021). “Women and Indigenous Knowledge in Africa.” In T. Falola, & O. Yacob-Haliso (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of African Women Studies. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Esiobu, C. (2021). “Research and Innovation in Africa’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Prospects and Barriers in Indigenous Medicine.” In B. Dos Santos, & M. Meneses (Eds.), Strange Mirrors, Unsuspected Lessons: Leading Europe to a New Way of Sharing the World Experiences. Almedina.
  • Esiobu, C. (2020). “Nigeria at Sixty: Learning to See, to Speak and to Thrive.” In Onumah C. (Ed.), Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices (pp. 117-122). PT Books.
  • Esiobu, C. (2019). Indigenous Knowledge and Education in Africa. Springer.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2018). “Innovation, Education and Development in Africa.” In T. Falola, & S. Olonrontuba (Eds.) Palgrave Handbook on Politics, Governance and Development in Africa (pp. 829-839). Palgrave-Macmillan.
  • Ezeanya, C. & Kennedy, A. (2017). “Integrating Clean Energy Use in National Poverty Alleviation Strategies: Opportunities and Challenges in Rwanda’s Girinka Program.” In Political Economy of Clean Energy Use (pp. 1-13). United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (Eds.). Oxford University Press.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2016). “Research, Innovation and Indigenous Knowledge in Sub-Saharan Africa: In Search of a Nexus.” In A. Heshmati. (Ed.), Economic Integration, Currency Union, and Sustainable Growth in East Africa (Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development, AAESP) (pp. 99-114). Springer.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). “Corruption and Citizenship in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Historical Analysis.” In G. Mudacumura and G. Morcol (Eds.), Challenges to Democratic Governance in Developing Countries (pp. 181-194). Springer.

Reports and Reviews

  • Esiobu, C. (2020). “Higher Education Across the Global South: From Epistemological Suicide to Epistemological Plurality.” Higher Education in the World Report 2020 (7), 119-122.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2015). “Indigenous Knowledge, Education Quality and Prosperity.” Legatum Institute, London: The Africa Prosperity Report 2014, 17-20.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). “A Model for Development Built on Indigenous Foundations.” Science Development. June 4.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). “Yes, We Can Aid Ourselves.” In S. Myers (Ed.), The New Rwanda II: Successes and Challenges on the Ground (p. 49). University of Scranton.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). “A Minister Without Convoy.” In S. Myers (Ed.) The New Rwanda II: Successes and Challenges on the Ground (p. 50). University of Scranton.
  • Esiobu, C. (2022). Review of Falolalism: The Epistemologies and Methodologies of Africana Knowledge by Abdul Karim Bangura. Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies 43(2).
  • Esiobu, C. (2022). Review of The Changing Face of Colonial Education in Africa: Education, Science, and Development by Peter Kallaway. Historical Studies in Education Fall Issue.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2015). Review of African Local Knowledge and Livestock Health Treatment: Diseases and Treatments in South Africa by William Beinhart and Karen Brown. African Studies Quarterly 5 (4), 92-93.
  • Ezeanya, C. (2014). Review of African Mathematics: From Bones to Computers by Abdul Karim Bangura. African Studies Quarterly (14)4, 81-82.

INVITATIONS, CONFERENCES, AND WORKSHOPS

  • World Health Organization Traditional Medicine Summit 2025. December 17-19 Invited Panelist. New Delhi, India.
  • Doha Debates (2025, May 1-2). Panelist. Doha, Qatar.
  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (October 3-4, 2024). Distinguished Panelist at the conference, “Systems of Engagement for Black People in the Global Scientific Enterprise.” Washington D.C.
  • Africafora Conference (2024, May 25). Invited Speaker. Paris, France.
  • African Indigenous Knowledge Research Workshop (2024, May 10-11). Methodology Workshop, Invited Speaker. Nairobi, Kenya.
  • United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (2023, December 5). Academic Conference on Africa, Distinguished Panelist. New York, NY.
  • Soka University of America (2023, October 2). Keynote Speaker at the 10th Annual Dialogue on the Culture of Peace and Non-violence. Theme: Women in Peacemaking. Aliso Viejo, CA.
  • University of South Africa, Department of Development Studies and South African Development Association (SADSA) (2023, July 23). Keynote Speaker. Topic: Indigenous Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship in African Development: The Role of Higher Education. Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Yale University, The Yale Center for Environmental Justice and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (2022, October 14). Panelist. Topic: Security and Sovereignty in the Global Food System. Presentation on Indigenous Food Systems and Food Security. New Haven, CT.
  • Global Landscapes Forum Africa Digital Conference (2022, September 15). Presentation on Indigenous Food Systems for Equity and Resilience at the session, “How to Build an Equitable, Resilient Food Future.” Online conference.
  • Mountain Top University, Office of the Vice-Chancellor's Distinguished Speaker Series (2022, June 30). Topic: Pebbles, Swords and Conquering Giants: Indigenous Knowledge, Western Knowledge and Nigeria's Accelerated Advancement. Nigeria.
  • Yale University, Macmillan Center Council on African Studies (2021, April 9). Spring Lecture Presentation. Topic: Africa's Indigenous Medicinal Knowledge: Charting New Pathways, Exploring Frontiers. Online.
  • University of California Los Angeles (2021, February 19). Panelist at the African Philosophies of Language Conference. Topic: Divided We Stand and Prosper: Indigenous Languages and the Growth of Intra-regional Trade in Africa. Online.
  • Africa Impact Conference, Canada (2021, February 21). Keynote Speaker. Canada.
  • Indigenous Hands and Voices of African Identity International (virtual) conference (2021, January 8). Keynote Speaker. Topic: Do Africa’s Indigenous Sign Languages Matter? Online.
  • Africa Knows! Conference, Netherlands (2020, December 3). Keynote Speaker. Topic: Deconstructing and Reconstructing the African's Mindset: Strategies, Platforms and Projected Impact. Online.
  • Teach for Nigeria (2020, July 31). Panelist. Topic: Indigenizing Africa’s Education for its Development. Online.
  • SpotOn 10th Anniversary Conference (2019, November 21). Panelist: Communicating Research for Social Impact. Cairo, Egypt.
  • Project Management Institute of Africa’s 50th Anniversary (2019, September 8). Invited Speaker. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • Ignite Africa Challenge Youth Training workshop (2019, August). Abuja, Nigeria.
  • The Economist Sustainability Summit (2019, March 21). Invited Panelist, Discussions on Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Preservation. London, England.
  • World Government Summit (2019, February 10-12). Distinguished Panelist. Paper presentation on Indigenous Knowledge and Knowledge Creation in the Global South. Dubai, UAE.
  • The Ecumenical Service for Advocacy Work on Southern Africa Workshop, 'Afrika Neu Denken' (2018, November 23-24). Invited Keynote Speaker. Frankfurt, Germany.
  • African Economic Research Consortium (2018, April 21-23). Workshop on Reconstruction of Fragile States in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya.
  • TED Global 2017 (2017, August 27-30). Invited Speaker (Builders. Truth-tellers. Catalysts.). Arusha, Tanzania.
  • United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Global Research Workshop on New Directions in Social Policy: Alternatives for and from the Global South (2017, June 25). Paper presentation on The Rise of Homegrown Ideas and Grassroots Voices: New Directions in Social Policy in Rwanda. Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • International Symposium on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Public Health Care in Eastern and Southern Africa (2016, April 25-26). Paper presentation on From Traditional Bonesetting to Orthopedic Medicine in the West: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa. Kigali, Rwanda.
  • Africalics International Conference on Unpacking Systems of Innovation for Development in Africa (2015, November 17-19). Paper presentation on Zikism, Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation for Africa’s Advancement. Kigali, Rwanda.
  • International Development Research Center Canada (IDRC) – Gender Analysis Training Workshop for African Researchers (2015, December 7-10). Dakar, Senegal.
  • Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Seminar on Conflict, Peace and Regional Economic Integration in Southern Africa (2015, October 7-8). Livingstone, Zambia.
  • United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Workshop on the Political Economy of Clean Energy Use (2015, August 27-28). Golden, Colorado, USA (National Renewable Energy Laboratory).
  • University of KwaZulu Natal – International Conference on Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Ethics (2015, April 28-30). Paper presentation on Indigenous Knowledge, Science and Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Durban, South Africa.
  • Cartagena Data Festival (2015, April 20-22). Invited to present on Accountability and Citizen Engagement in Data Use. Cartagena, Spain.
  • Africavenir International Conference (2014, December 5-7). Presentation on African Perspectives on Global Challenges (in the Context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda). Berlin, Germany.
  • United Nations University (UNU-WIDER) 2014 Conference on Inequality: Trends, Impacts and Measurements (2014, September 5-6). Paper presentation on Homegrown and Grassroots based Approaches to Determining Inequality Towards Policy Action: Rwanda’s Ubudehe Approach in Perspective. Helsinki, Finland.
  • Open Society Foundation Summer School at Central European University (2014, July 12-19). Topic: Innovative Financing for Education: Arguments, Options and Implications. Budapest, Hungary.
  • American Political Science Association Africa Workshop on Distributive Goods and Distributive Politics (2014, June 30 - July 11). Maputo, Mozambique.
  • London School of Economics Africa Summit (2014, April 4-5). Paper presentation on Indigenous Knowledge, Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment in Rwanda: The Girinka Approach. London, England.
  • United Nations Public Service Award Ceremony and Forum (2013, June 23-27). Presentation on Building Capacity for Gender Responsive Budgeting in Rwanda. Manama, Bahrain.
  • African Union Technical Experts Meeting on Draft Benchmarking/Indicators Tool and State Reporting Guidelines on the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance (2013, March 10-11). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • Pan African Parliament – United Nations Development Program (UNDP) African Thematic Consultation on Governance and the Post 2015 Development Agenda (2013, February 26-27). Midrand, South Africa.
  • Pan African Parliament – United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Development Financing and the Post 2015 Framework and Africa Post 2015 Narrative Meetings (2013, February 24-25). Midrand, South Africa.
  • Privatization in Education Research Initiative workshop (2012, October 12-13). Topic: Globalization, Regionalization and Privatization in and of Education in Africa. Funded by the Open Society Institute of Southern Africa (OSISA). Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • African Studies Association Annual Meeting (2012, November 30). Presentation on Sustainable Economic Growth in Liberia: An Analysis of Post-Conflict Nation Building Initiatives. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • International Conference on Governance and Democracy to mark Rwanda’s 50th Independence Anniversary (2012, July 1-3). Presentation made to the parliament on Corruption, Citizenship and National Building in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kigali, Rwanda.
  • Rwanda Governance Board High Level Policy Dialogue on Governance, Peace and Security in the Great Lakes (2012, October 7). Presentation on Lasting Peace in the Great Lakes: The Ubuntu Way. Kigali, Rwanda.
  • Visiting Assistant Professor of African Studies, Soka University of America (SUA) | August 2022 – Present
  • Adjunct Professor, California State University, Dominguez Hills | 2017–2021
  • Director of Research and Postgraduate Education, College of Business and Economics (formerly School of Finance and Banking), University of Rwanda | 2011–2016
  • Senior Lecturer, College of Business and Economics (formerly School of Finance and Banking), University of Rwanda | 2011–2016
  • Teaching Associate, Howard University, Washington, D.C. | 2008–2011
  • 2020 Swift Foundation Grant for research on African Indigenous knowledge systems.
  • 2019 The University of Cape town and International Development Research Center (Canada) research grant for the Open Africa Innovation Research and Training (“Open AIR”) Project on Scaling Innovation Inclusively.
  • 2018 African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) – Research grant to study effectiveness of do nor funding of higher education in Uganda and Rwanda.
  • 2017 International Development Research Center (IDRC) Canada - Research grant to study indigenous knowledge based technology and economic empowerment of rural women in Rwanda.
  • 2016 The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Foundation Fellowship (SYLFF) Japan – Research grant to organize workshop on leadership and character development in Rwanda.
  • 2015 United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) – Research grant to conduct study on indigenous knowledge based new directions in social policy in Rwanda.
  • 2015 United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNUWIDER) - Research grant to conduct study on alternative energy use in rural communities in Rwanda.
  • 2014 Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) - Postdoctoral research grant. 2010 The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Foundation Fellowship (SYLFF – Howard University, Chika Ezeanya Esiobu PhD Washington D.C.): tuition and fees,
    dissertation grant, research and travel grant, health insurance and stipend.
  • 2009 The National Endowment for the Humanities Frederick Douglas Fellowship, Howard University Washington D.C.

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS

  • Principal Investigator, Rwanda. International Development Research Center Canada. (2014-2016). Assessment and evaluation of the utilization of Indigenous knowledge in entrepreneurship among rural women in Rwanda.
  • Project Communications Officer, World Bank, Rwanda Country Office. (2011-2012). World Bank’s Second Rural Sector Support Project Rwanda. Working with assessment and evaluation officers to communicate project outcomes across to all stakeholders.
  • Program Consultant, World Bank, Washington D.C. and Rwanda Country Office. (2009). Assessment and Evaluation of Health Education Institutions in Rwanda towards scaling up of Production and Production Capacity.
  • Program Support Officer World Bank, Abuja Nigeria. (2008). Support to the Government of Nigeria through assisting the government’s National Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Committee in building a program-based approach to SLM.