Former Fellow

Esther Akumbo Nyam, Ph.D.

Lecturer at Plateau State University, Bokkos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Research Project: Trust and Reconciliation: Presentation of the Middle belt region of Nigeria.

Abstract
What defines material culture studies are the various artifacts that defines a people. The study will discuss the complex nature and relationships between material culture, collective action and formations of identity and exploring possible ways it can facilitate or hinder the processes of fostering and rebuilding trust for conscientization and change. The Impact of the violent conflict in the middle belt region in Nigeria would be deconstructed highlighting the distinctions of life and property and how this impact on its citizenry can regain its trust in the aftermath crisis. Performance theory and cultural innovation theory will be looked at. These cultural innovation theories are mostly created by conflicts, insecurity and war and it discusses the issue of trust, reconciliation, dialogue and change. It would showcase the importance of incorporating reenactments, films in proffering solutions in addressing the violent conflict in the affected communities. The study aims at contributing the role of material culture in resolving the conflict in building trust and reconciliation as processes.

  • Biografische Angaben

    Esther A. Nyam holds a PhD in community theater and development. Her research revolves around women, children and youths in developmental community oriented reenactment projects both nationally and internationally.
  • Publikationen

    Esther A. Nyam (2017) Polio Eradication and Conflicting Participation In The Quest For Change: BEYOND  AGENCY: Voice and Space in Africa’s Development, Editor by Maurice Nyamanga Amutabi, Centre for Democracy, Research and Development (CEDRED), Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN 978-9966-1933-2-2 Esther A. Nyam (2018) Participatory Approach To Theatre For Development (TFD) Experiences in Meru For Sustainable Change (2016). Politics of  Development in Africa. Edited by Maurice  Nyamanga  Amutabi. Centre for Democracy, Research and Development(CEDRED), Nairobi, Kenya. ISBN 978-9966-116-79-6 Nyam E. A. (2016) Revolutionary Politics & the Theatre of Semotics: Political Discourse in Emergent, Fragile, and Failed Democracies, Edited by, D.Orwenjo, Oketch, O., Tunde H. Asiru. Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) Publisher, USA @2016, ISBN 9781522500810, ISBN 9781522500810 Esther A. Nyam (2019). Clapping from the Arena, An enlighten Despotism and Theatre for Global Development: A Mitigation against Climate Change and Water

News from the research center

News
04.12.2025

The crisis of democratic theory from a sociological perspective

Sociologist Jenny Brichzin's lecture "Crisis of Democratic Theory? A sociological intervention" opened our lecture series "At the crossroads? On the future of democratic theory". The sociologist criticized the fact that social coexistence has so far been insufficiently addressed in democratic theory. A follow-up report

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Publication
21.11.2025 | Anthology

Handbook of Leadership. Applied Business Psychology for Managers

Felfe, Jörg; Dick, Rolf van (eds.) (2025): Handbook of Leadership. Applied Business Psychology for Managers. Springer.

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News
20.11.2025

Voluntary or compulsory? Military service, peace and democratic responsibility

Review of the 58th "Römerberggespräche". The topic of compulsory military service and the question of what a democratic state is allowed to demand of its citizens were at the center of the 58th "Römerberggespräche" "Conditionally ready for action? Military service and the duty to serve the state", which took place on November 15 in cooperation with the Research Centre Normative Orders in the Chagallsaal at Schauspiel Frankfurt.

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News
13.11.2025

Goethe Lecture Offenbach on ableist discrimination

Regina Schidel hat im Rahmen der Goethe Lectures Offenbach eine Kritik ableistischer Diskriminierung präsentiert. In ihrem Vortrag „Ich kann, also bin ich?“ diskutierte sie praktische Ausprägungen und philosophische Herkünfte von Ableismus.

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Event
10.02.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Satanic Politics. Democracy after Liberalism

Lecture, Lecture Series

Lecture by Michael Rosen (Harvard University) as part of the lecture series "At the Crossroads? On the crisis of democracy" in the winter semester 2025/2026

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Event
04.02.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Demokratien verteidigen. Zur Aktualität des Gewaltbegriffs bei Camus und Derrida

Lecture Series, Lecture

Vortrag von Christine Abbt (Universität St. Gallen) im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung "Am Scheidepunkt? Zur Krise der Demokratie" im Wintersemester 2025/2026

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Event
29.01.2026 | Frankfurt

Civil Geopolitics and the Dilemmas of the Democratic State

Lecture Series, Lecture

Vortrag von David Owen (Universtiy of Southampton) im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung "Am Scheidepunkt? Zur Krise der Demokratie" im Wintersemester 2025/2026

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Event
14.01.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Vom Retten der Welt zum Vorbereiten auf den Kollaps: Neuorientierungen in katastrophischen Zeiten

Lecture Series, Lecture

Vortrag von Christine Hentschel (Universität Hamburg) im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung "Am Scheidepunkt? Zur Krise der Demokratie" im Wintersemester 2025/2026

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Event
10.12.2025 | Frankfurt am Main

How Democracy Relies on the Future

Lecture Series, Lecture

Vortrag von Jonathan White (LSE) im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung "Am Scheidepunkt? Zur Krise der Demokratie" im Wintersemester 2025/2026

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