Emmanuel Chidozie Uchenna is an anthropologist affiliated with the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. and Grae Matta Foundation (GMF), London, England. His interdisciplinary research lies at the intersection of the anthropology of religion, trauma studies, and social infrastructure, with a regional focus on Nigeria. His PhD project, titled “Reinterpreting Trauma through Religious Attachment: Resiliency and Recovery of Boko Haram Survivors at the International Christian Centre, Edo-State, Nigeria”, explores how Christian faith-based practices serve as vehicles for psychosocial healing and reconstitution of everyday life among survivors of insurgent violence.
With academic training spanning philosophy, theology, trauma studies, cultural anthropology, and development studies, Emmanuel brings a nuanced perspective to the study of vulnerability, care networks, and spiritual resilience. His work draws on ethnographic fieldwork among internally displaced children and women, illuminating the role of religious and communal institutions in reconstructing dignity, meaning, and belonging after trauma.
Beyond academia, Emmanuel has volunteered in both Nigerian and UK educational and support settings, working closely with children, young adults, and persons with special needs. He has also collaborated with peace initiatives and mental health projects across different cultural contexts.
Emmanuel is passionate about combining anthropological insight with community-engaged research to inform inclusive welfare systems and trauma-informed policy approaches. He is fluent in English, Igbo and Chinese.