Beyond Western Psychology: Decolonizing Mental Health Through Testimony Therapy with Dr. Makungu Akinyela (313)

Testimony is more than telling your story—it’s reclaiming the power to heal

Psychologist, scholar, and activist Dr. Makungu Akinyela explores Testimony Therapy, an African-centered approach that emphasizes storytelling, cultural identity, ancestral wisdom, and community connection. Alongside co-host Sue Marriott, they examine how colonialism and systemic oppression shape mental health, the power of oral traditions in healing, and why meaningful change requires moving beyond individual treatment toward collective healing and liberation.

“The story is not just one person’s story. It’s a shared story.” – Dr. Makungu Akinyela

Time Stamps for Beyond Western Psychology: Decolonizing Mental Health Through Testimony Therapy with Dr. Makungu Akinyela (313)

01:09 Dr. Akinyela’s background and activism

02:22 The influence of Western psychology and decolonial thought

03:56 Fanon, Du Bois, and the roots of testimony therapy

10:32 Testimony therapy and the question of cultural narratives

13:40 Double consciousness and the experience of Blackness

17:58 Colorism, internalized racism, and social trauma

21:28 Fanon’s zone of non-being and political realities

28:10 African-centered worldview and community healing