CURRICULUM VITAE
Current Position
Since 2023 Teacher of “Swahili Language and African Cultures” at the University for Foreigners of Siena – UNISTRASI
Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Turin within the framework of InALC - "Investigating African Languages and Cultures" (PRIN n. 2022XMRNF9).
Working title of my project: A Commented Archive of Christian Missionary Literature and Lexicon in Swahili from Tanzania.
Research
Postdoc research fellowship for a project on "Swahili Literature and Afrophone Philosophy" (REF. 40.23.0.006SL) funded by The Fritz Thyssen Foundation and hosted at the University of Naples “L’Orientale” in 2023/24.
Degrees
2021, London, UK
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) in African Languages and Cultures at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of London. Theses on: “The Interaction of Plural Epistemes in Swahili Literature on HIV/AIDS from Tanzania -with a Focus on William Mkufya’s Novels”.
2018, London, UK
Master of Philosophy/ Doctoral MPhil in African Languages and Cultures program at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of London.
2017, Rome, Italy
II level Professional Master’s degree in “Economics and Institutions of Islamic Countries – MISLAM”, School of Government at LUISS – Guido Carli, University of Rome; grade 110/110 cum laude.
2015, Naples, Italy
Master’s degree in "Sciences of Languages, History and Cultures of Mediterranean and Islamic Countries" (LM-36), University of Naples "L' Orientale"; grade 110/110 cum laude with honorable mention of publication.
2013, Naples, Italy
Bachelor’s Degree in "Oriental and African Languages and Cultures - curriculum Islamic studies" (L-11), University of Naples"L' Orientale"; grade 110/110 cum laude.
Fieldwork Experiences and Research Grants
Grants & Awards
2017-2021: SOAS Research Studentship awarded from SOAS University of London for funding the MPhil/PhD African Languages and Cultures program at SOAS.
2014-2015: Exchange student grant awarded from 'University of Naples "L' Orientale" to study and conduct research at UDSM ("University of Dar es Salaam") (Tanzania).
2011-2012: Exchange student grant awarded from 'University of Naples "L' Orientale" to study at UDSM ("University of Dar es Salaam") (Tanzania).
Fieldwork Research and Exchange Student Experiences
2018-2019, Tanzania
PhD Degree Fieldwork Research in Tanzania
2014 – 2015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Exchange student at the University of Dar es Salaam- UDSM (Tanzania) enrolled in the Master of Arts in Kiswahili at the IKS - Institute of Kiswahili Studies.
2013, Tunis, Tunisia
49th session of intensive Arabic language course at the “Bourguiba Institute (IBLV)” in Tunis (Tunisia).
2011 – 2012, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Exchange student at the University of Dar es Salaam- UDSM (Tanzania) enrolled in at the College of Arts and Social Science.
Conferences, Lectures and Teaching
Invited Guest Lectures
15 December 2021 – invited lecture on: The Treatment of Illness as a Field of
"Clash of Epistemes" in 40127 Advanced Seminar 3 / Field B: Literary Studies African Literatures in Context: African Literature in the Context of a Pandemic (AY 2021/22) convened by Prof. Alena Rettovà University of Bayreuth, online lecture due to Covid-19.
15 January 2019 –lecture in Swahili on “Migongano ya Kiepistemolojia katika Usawiri wa VVU/UKIMWI kupitia Korasi ya Kiswahili” in Theories for Literary Critics (KF 618) course convened by Prof. Aldin Mutembei at UDSM University of Dar es Salaam (TZ).
1 November 2017 –invited lecture on “Swahili Dramas on HIV/AIDS”, in Swahili II B Literature course convened by Prof. Alena Rettovà at SOAS University of London (UK).
12 June 2013 – Invited lecture in the seminar: "Swahili Post-Colonial Literature and Social Changes in East Africa", convened by Prof. G. Acquaviva and held at the University of Torino (IT) Department of Humanities STUDIUM, presenting a scholarly article entitled: “AIDS / UKIMWI & Swahili Literature. Prevention and Educational projects"
Teaching Experiences
Since 2021
Swahili language teacher, teaching individual courses online, at the school of languages and language centre INLINGUA – Roma School S.R.L.
Training and Professional Qualifications
18.10.2022
Certificate of achievement of the “Teacher Training Course” (‘Percorso Formativo Docenti’) compliant with the Italian D.M 616/2017 that has a legal duration of 600h and issues 24 (CFU) university training credits.
Presentations at Academic Conferences
29 October 2022 -BARAZA – SOAS Swahili studies conference, SOAS University of London. Title: “Weaponizing Literature: Swahili Novels on HIV/AIDS “partigiani” in the epistemic resistance war”.
14 June 2022 - 9th Asixoxe (Let’s Talk!) Conference on African Philosophy, Centre of African Philosophy, University of Bayreuth and Centre of Global Studies, Prague, University Campus Bayreuth. Title: “A War of Epistemes: Swahili Novels on HIV/AIDS “partigiani” in the Epistemic Resistance War”.
29 October 2021 - BARAZA: Swahili studies Annual Conference, SOAS University of London, virtual event due to Covid 19; paper presented in Swahili: “Taswira ya Kiepistemolojia katika Riwaya ya Kuwa Kwa Maua iliyoandikwa na William E. Mkufya” (New Epistemological Perspectives in William E. Mkufya’s Latest Novel Kuwa Kwa Maua, The Existence of Flowers).
15 June 2021 - 8th Asixoxe (Let’s Talk!) Conference on African Philosophy: “The Genre of Reality: African Philosophy in the Covid-19 Crisis” Centre of Global Studies, Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences- Prague (Czech Republic), and the Centre of African Philosophy, University of Bayreuth, Germany; Online due to Covid-19, 15th – 16th June 2021; paper presented: “From VVU/UKIMWI (HIV/AIDS) to UVIKO-19 (Covid-19): An Epistemological Analysis of Pandemics in Tanzania through Swahili Literature”.
29 April 2021 - ERC Webinars and Seminars: PhiGe –Philosophy and Genre: Creating a Textual Basis for African Philosophy – University of Bayreuth, online due to Covid-19; paper presented: “The Co-existence of Plural Epistemes in Swahili Literature on HIV/AIDS from Tanzania”.
15 June 2020 - Asixoxe (Let’s Talk!) 2020 - Conference on African Philosophy: “Africa in a Cosmopolitan and Polycentric World: Violence, Conflict Mediation, and Peace Building Dynamics”, CGS - The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, online due to Covid-19, 15th – 16th June 2020; title of the paper: “New Epistemological Perspectives in William E. Mkufya’s Latest Novel Kuwa Kwa Maua (The Existence of Flowers)”.
12 October 2019 - Baraza V Swahili Studies Annual Conference at SOAS University of London, London; paper presented: “From Script to Play: Ushuhuda wa Mifupa from 1989 to 2019”.
31 May – 2 June 2019 - 32nd Swahili Colloquium, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth; title of the paper: "From script to play: Ushuhuda wa Mifupa - The Testimony of the Bones from 1989 to 2019".
3-4 May 2019 - Asixoxe 2019 – Let’s Talk! Conference on African Philosophy CGS/SOAS, SOAS University of London, London; title of the paper: “Clash between Epistemes in the Representation of HIV/AIDS through Swahili Literature from Tanzania”.
18-19 June 2018 - Asixoxe 2018 – Let’s Talk! Conference on African Philosophy CGS/SOAS, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague; title of the paper: “Clash of Epistemes in the Representation of HIV/AIDS in Swahili Drama”.
31 May - 1 June 2018 - Ngoma na Vaiolini: International Swahili Poetry days III edition, University of Naples “L’Orientale”, Naples; title of the paper: “Clash of Epistemes in the Representation of HIV/AIDS through Swahili Dramatic chorus”.
11-13 May 2018 - 31st Swahili Colloquium, University of Bayreuth; title of the paper: “Clash of Epistemes in the Representation of HIV/AIDS in Swahili Drama”.
3-4 May 2018 - Asixoxe 2018 – Let’s Talk! Conference on African Philosophy CGS/SOAS, SOAS University of London, London; title of the paper: “Divination and Healing Practices: A challenge to the conventional interpretation on African time”.
31 May - 1 June 2017 – Participation at International Study Days “Ngoma na Vailini” on Swahili Poetry held at University of Naples “L’Orientale”, Naples, presenting a scholarly paper about: “Nyimbo za Unyago wakati wa VVU/UKIMWI; Jadi na Mamboleo” (The songs of Unyago in the time of HIV/AIDS; tradition and modernity).
26 May – 28 May 2017 - Participation at “30th Anniversary Swahili Colloquium” held at Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, presenting a scholarly paper about: “Ulinganishaji Baina Ya Lugha Ya Unyago Na Lugha Ya Mabango Dhidi Ya UKIMWI Katika Tanzania Leo” (The analogies between the language of Unyago and the language of billboards against AIDS in Tanzania today).
6 June – 8 June 2016 - Participation at “29th Swahili Colloquium” held at Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, presenting a scholarly paper about: “Mkabala Linganishi: Dhamira ya Wazimu na Kichaa katika Tamthilia za Luigi Pirandello na Tamhilia za Penina Muhando” (Comparative perspective: leitmotif of madness and insanity in Luigi Pirandello and Penina Muhando’ s dramas).
31 May – 2 June 2015 - Participation at “28th Swahili Colloquium” held at Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, presenting a scholarly paper about: “Changamoto za UKIMWI katika Tamthilia za Kiswahili” (Challenges of AIDS in Swahili dramas).
17 January 2015 - Participation in the live program “Kiswahili and The Pearls of Languages” broadcasted live on Tanzanian national channel ITV, held in ITV recording studio of Dar es Salaam, presenting a short paper about my research on the relationship of HIV/AIDS, as a topic in contemporary Tanzanian performing arts, and traditional performing arts such as the female maturity rites (unyago).
24 November 2014 –Participation in the seminar: “The growing use of Kiswahili into the world", held at the Department TATAKI (Institute of Kiswahili Studies) - University of Dar es Salaam, and aired on Tanzanian national television ITV, giving a short talk about: the teaching of Swahili language in Italy and in particular at the University of Naples "L' Orientale"; the annual agreement for bilateral exchange of students and teaching staff between UNIOR (University of Naples "L' Orientale") and UDSM ("University of Dar es Salaam"); my experience as an exchange student at UDSM in Tanzania.
24 October 2011 –Participation in a seminar in the occasion of the celebration for the 50th anniversary of UDSM ("University of Dar es Salaam") held at the Department TATAKI (Institute of Kiswahili Studies) - University of Dar es Salaam, giving a brief talk about "the teaching of Swahili Language and Culture in Italy and in particular at the University of Naples "L' Orientale."
Knowledge of Languages
Italian (mother tongue), Swahili, English, French and Arabic.