Decolonizing Memory: New Animist and Relational Imaginaries in South Africa through Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s Art and Koleka Putuma’s Poetry

Abstract

This article draws on the works of Nurit Bird-David, Graham Harvey, Tim Ingold, and others to argue that new animism, with its emphasis on relational epistemologies, provides an ecological framework that reconfigures how we remember, relate, and resist. Through an analysis of the works of two contemporary South African artists—Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s animist-infused paintings and Koleka Putuma’s relational poetry—the article demonstrates how new animist epistemologies can transform memory work in decolonized forms. Both artists engage with the afterlives of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa, revealing that relationships are not static but emerge continuously through interactions with the earth, matter, and spirit. Their work highlights how decolonization is not only geographically situated but also shaped by broader ecological contexts. By rethinking memory, identity, and resistance through the lens of new animism, this article showcases its potential to challenge and reshape postcolonial narratives. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.