the lab:
where curiosity becomes understanding.
The Recentred Africa Lab is our space for disciplined curiosity.
It is where we study how stories shape people, how people shape stories, and how narrative can move communities towards dignity, clarity and connection.
This is our inquiry hub, our workshop of ideas, our place to think before we make.
the lab’s purpose
We dig beneath the surface to understand the human, social and psychological forces that give stories their power.
We test methodologies, explore participatory approaches, and examine the ethics of narrative work across the continent.
The Lab sharpens our questions. The Studio turns those questions into craft. One cannot exist meaningfully without the other.
what we explore
Investigating human narratives.
We study how stories influence perception, belonging and behaviour. Our interest lies in the quieter forces: the unspoken assumptions, cultural memories and emotional undercurrents that shape how stories are received.
Exploring participatory methodologies.
We develop approaches that hand narrative agency back to communities. When people participate in the construction of their own stories, the outcome is more truthful, more nuanced, and more empowering.
Fostering participant engagement.
We work closely with our story interests, not as observers but as collaborators. Their perspectives guide the direction of the narratives we craft and the frameworks we develop.
Researching narrative impact.
We investigate how stories function as tools for empathy, action and change. The data helps us design narratives that are not only beautiful but meaningful and socially aware.
lab initiatives
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We are continually refining the Storythreading framework: A participatory, curiosity-driven approach to narrative design.
We test it in the field, adapt it across communities and contexts, and document what works (and what needs re-thinking).
The goal is a methodology that is both rigorous and accessible.
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We believe everyone has a story to tell - which is why we design and run programmes that empower people to tell their own stories.
Workshops, fellowships, hands-on field learning... We create environments where participants move from “subject of the story” to “author of the narrative”. This is how lasting narrative shifts begin.
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We explore what resonates and why. This includes studying audience perception, narrative structure, emotional triggers and social outcomes.
Insights from this research guide both our Studio work and our community programmes, keeping everything tied to evidence rather than assumption.
