International Workshop

Rethinking Anthropological Practice through Dialogue with Local Research Assistants

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP：Anthropological fieldwork relies greatly on local research assistants. Working between researchers and local communities, they become involved in the challenges and complications that arise in the field. What does anthropological fieldwork look like from their perspective?

We invite Mr. Charles-Jones Nsonkali and Mr. Simon Pierre Etoga, who have worked with researchers from Japan for more than thirty years in Cameroon.

Drawing on their experience as research assistants, they will reflect on fieldwork and research from their perspectives. A roundtable discussion with researchers and students who have worked with them will follow. Through this dialogue, we will reconsider the relationships among researchers, research assistants, and local communities, and explore more collaborative research practices in anthropology and other field-based sciences.

Event Information

Date & Time: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Venue: Institute of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Room 427, Research and Lecture Building

Languages: English and French (with consecutive interpretation)

Admission: Free

Registration: No advance registration required

Speakers：

• Mr. Charles-Jones Nsonkali (Independent Consultant)
  Resides in Bertoua, in the Eastern Region of Cameroon. Whilst working in agriculture, he has supported the research of dozens of International academics, students and journalists as a research assistant. Since the 2010s, he has been involved in social movements advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples (the Baka). He is fluent in English, French, Baka and Bakwele.

• Mr. Simon Pierre Etoga (Association Tam Tam Mobile)
  Resides in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. Whilst working as a photojournalist, he has assisted dozens of researchers and students, primarily in urban areas. In 1997, he founded NGO "Association Tam Tam mobile" and has been engaged in action research aimed at improving living conditions in the slums spreading across urban areas.

Moderators：

• Associ prof. Takanori Oishi (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)
• Prof. Misa Hirano (Nomoto) (Kyoto University)

Program：

1:00 PM-1:10 PM：Opening Remarks and Introduction

1:10 PM-2:40 PM：Dialogue Sessions

Anthropology of Tropical Forest Societies

• Mr. Charles-Jones Nsonkali
• Associ.Prof. Takanori Oishi
  
  

Urban Anthropology

• Mr. Simon Pierre Etoga
• Prof. Misa Hirano (Nomoto)
  
  

2:40 PM-3:00 PM：Break

3:00 PM-4:00 PM：Roundtable Discussion

Participants:

• Mr. Charles-Jones Nsonkali
• Mr. Simon Pierre Etoga
• Associ.Prof. Takanori Oishi
• Prof. Misa Hirano (Nomoto)
• Mr. Kokowa Togitani

Organizer：

JSPS KAKENHI Research Project

Long-term Dynamics of Population, Land Use, and Forest Resource Utilization in a Multiethnic Society of Southeastern Cameroon (Grant No. 24K15429)

Principal Investigator: Takanori Oishi

Co-organizers：

• Center for Contemporary African Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
• Center for African Area Studies, Kyoto University
• TUFS Field Science Commons
• FENICS (Nonprofit Organization)