Jacky Kosgei

Jacky Kosgei is a Junior Professor (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in the English Seminar at the University of Tübingen, Germany, within the Philosophische Fakultät. She is affiliated with the Anglophone Literary Cultures and Global South Studies section, where she teaches African Literary and Cultural Studies. Her academic work is deeply interdisciplinary, bridging literary studies, cultural anthropology, history, and environmental humanities.

Her research centers on oral history, indigenous knowledge systems, and marine ecosystems, particularly in East Africa. She investigates how local narratives and embodied knowledges—especially from coastal communities—can challenge and expand official historical archives and contribute to marine conservation. Her work emphasizes decolonial methodologies and the epistemic value of non-Europhone traditions.

The recent publications reflect a strong thematic coherence: they explore oceanic epistemologies, postcolonial ecocriticism, Indian Ocean cultural flows, and the politics of knowledge production. There is a clear trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with environmental scientists and policymakers, as seen in her work with the World Resources Institute on indigenous knowledge and ocean governance. Her scholarship consistently engages with questions of climate change, migration, memory, and the ethics of coexistence.

• Co-convener, BA Minor in African Literary and Cultural Studies
• Associate Member, Indian Ocean World Centre, McGill University (since October 2024)
• Member, Steering Committee, Interdisciplinary Centre for Global South Studies (ICGSS), University of Tübingen (since 2024)
• Board Member, Mashariki (Eastern African) Literary and Cultural Studies Conference Series
• Editor and Reviewer, Marimba Publications
• Reviewer, Journal of Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies (EALCS)

Jacky Kosgei has supervised numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and currently co-supervises five PhD candidates at the University of Tübingen. Her collaborative research has been supported through participation in international expert workshops and funded initiatives, including those with the Ocean Panel and World Resources Institute. She frequently organizes and co-convenes academic events, such as workshops on Indian Ocean epistemologies and panels at major conferences.

She is actively involved in several research collectives and networks focused on the Global South, oceanic studies, and decolonial knowledge production. Her work with seafarers and coastal communities in Kenya underscores a commitment to community-engaged scholarship. She also contributes to public discourse through invited talks, lectures, and participation in theatrical and artistic projects that address historical and environmental justice.