Lennon Mhishi is an anthropologist whose interdisciplinary work spans interests in Africa and its diasporas, afterlives of slavery and colonialism, approaches to contemporary forms of exploitation, forced labour and human rights in different African countries. He has experience in migration and diaspora, heritage, music, other arts-based, creative approaches to knowledge making and engagement. His interest is in curatorial and museum practice that centres community-engaged, collaborative, antiracist, and inclusive practice.
His current work is as a Project Researcher on the project Reconnecting “Objects”:Epistemic Plurality and Transformative Practices in and Beyond Museums funded by VW Stiftung. His research in Johannesburg investigated the intersections of identity and consumption that shaped mobilities, aspirations and experiences of South Africa for young Zimbabweans. His doctoral work in London focused on the experiences of music and belonging amongst Zimbabweans, as part of the genealogy of African and Black expressive culture in the UK. Through the Antislavery Knowledge Network, he worked on how creative, art and heritage-based community-led approaches can be utilised in confronting contemporary forms of exploitation; collaborating at different stages with partners and communities in Mali, Niger, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.