Kanayo Nomeh

Biography:

Nomeh A. Kanayo is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University. Prior to joining FIU, he worked as a Chinese language interpreter and business development researcher with China-based business groups, including Aima. His research interests are on postcolonial theories, the history and international relations of African states as well as China’s foreign policy, with a particular focus on China-Global South relations. His current research is investigating the non-material dimensions of neo-colonial discourses in China-Africa relations.

Post-colonial scholars have long underscored the enduring legacies —often non-material—of colonialism in the Global South, suggesting that the non-material aspects of colonialism can have a greater and more lasting impact than the material ones. Yet, while post-colonialism is ongoing and now, intersecting with a new discourse of neo-colonialism, the new discourse has largely been confined to one aspect (material) within a broad discourse of what constitutes colonialism and neo-colonialism.

In the context of China-Africa relations, I am interested in exploring how non-material aspects of colonialism may apply or manifest. Through what lenses can we assess the presence or absence of neo-colonialism beyond economic or military dimensions? Are contemporary Global South actors’ passive recipients of these influences, or do they actively resist and reshape them? Moreover, does this dynamic generate new conceptual frameworks, challenging traditional notions of colonialism? Kanayo has presented his research at the Florida Political Science Association (2023), the Midwest Political Science Association (2024), and the International Studies Association (South) in 2024