Abstract
The article recapitulates field research experiences of a native researcher in Eastern DRC. In many cases, a native is considered an insider. However, the field research took place in an ethnically polarized context where an insider researcher can be mischaracterized and amalgamated to her own ethnic community. Besides polarization, the fieldwork took place in a volatile setting to the extent that it increases security concerns for a researcher who belongs to a “contested community”; meaning, researcher’s position is likely associated with his ethnic community. Based on the field experience, the article shares insights of dealing with this complexity, volatility, and uncertainties. While the article does not claim that insights can be generalized across different contexts, it specifically proposes some attitudes to take when a researcher faces a dilemma of touching the ground realities while he might individually be amalgamated within socio-cultural differences. The article recalls the necessity of understanding the effects of socio-cultural polarization within the academic field.
Highlights
The article recapitulates field research experiences of a native researcher in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The field research took place in North-Kivu and South-Kivu of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between September 2018 and May 2019, a period of volatile political context in relation to presidential and parliamentary general elections organized around December 2018.1 Four territories were covered in North-Kivu: Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, and Walikale; and three in South-Kivu: Fizi, Mwenga, and Uvira
Research Assistants (RAs) who collected data in Rutshuru had shared their experience on how EMu was treated with special attention in a restaurant-bar; being called “Afande.”21 Other RAs acknowledged to have been asked by locals if EMu is a military officer
Summary
Members of the Banyamulenge community are afraid to travel in remote regions of the DRC. RAs who collected data in Rutshuru had shared their experience on how EMu was treated with special attention in a restaurant-bar; being called “Afande.” Other RAs acknowledged to have been asked by locals if EMu is a military officer. Based on his physical features, “Nilotic characteristics” (Pottier, 2002; Sanders, 1969), CRM has experienced similar misrepresentation in Masisi territory. I was asked if I am an officer or someone working with security apparatuses in Lulimba locality when soldiers at the checkpoints read my research permit. The description of Banyamulenge-Tutsi by the interviewee showed that a researcher can be amalgamated with an “intruder” based on his socio-cultural affiliation
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