The Journey from Entebbe to Limbe and to Beijing: We Dare Not Linger

In the heart of Cameroon, a group of researchers and storytellers from eBASE Africa embarked on an extraordinary journey. Together, they sought to unlock the power of storytelling to illuminate scientific insights often hidden behind paywalls and complex jargon. This team became two rivers: The River of Science—the researchers—and The River of Stories—the storytellers. Their journey flowed through Entebbe, Limbe, and eventually, Beijing, blending stories with science in a movement that crossed continents and cultures.

From Cameroon to Entebbe: Taking the Stage Internationally

The journey began with a milestone moment in Entebbe, where storytellers from eBASE Africa took the international stage for the first time. They opened the EVIDENCE 2022 Conference, captivating an audience with performances that highlighted the depth and power of storytelling in bridging communities with science. This experience marked a significant debut, allowing eBASE storytellers to share their art on a global platform and to introduce storytelling as a complementary tool to scientific discourse. This was funded by the BHP Foundation.

It was here in Entebbe that the storytellers met DEval, a group of researchers and evaluators from Germany who recognized the potential of storytelling in participatory evaluation. This initial connection sparked conversations about how storytelling could enhance evaluation processes by bringing in diverse perspectives and lived experiences. While this meeting set the foundation, it was only the beginning—the team would go on to fully realize their vision in Limbe, where the bridge between science and storytelling was built.

Limbe: Building the Bridge Between the River of Science and the River of Stories

After Entebbe, the journey continued to Limbe, a coastal town in Cameroon where the waves of the Atlantic Ocean met the voices of storytellers, researchers, and evaluators from Cameroon, Germany, and South America. Supported by DEval and PETAS, the gathering in Limbe provided a collaborative space to turn the initial ideas from Entebbe into actionable strategies.

In Limbe, DEval, PETAS , storytellers from Africa, and eBASE Africa set out to harness the power of the two, the River of Science and the River of Stories - now flowing as one. Through interactive sessions, workshops, and participatory evaluations, the storytellers and researchers collaborated to create a model for exchanging knowledge across these two rivers. The process was deeply engaging: researchers gained insight into how storytelling could make their findings more accessible, while storytellers learned how scientific rigor could enhance the depth and authenticity of their narratives. 

The Sea Life in Limbe became more than just a setting; it was a symbol of the boundless stories and the limitless possibilities of participatory evaluation. This retreat and festival of stories happened in the harvest season and with the full moon. As we gathered by the ocean, storytellers shared tales rooted in tradition, memory, and resilience. From ancestral legends to personal experiences, their stories reflected the richness of African culture. The evaluators embraced these narratives, not as data points to measure, but as experiences to honor and learn from. By asking open questions and listening deeply, they connected with each storyteller, recognizing the value of evaluation as a celebration of diverse voices. 

Several opportunities for harnessing the power of the comings of the two rivers were identified, including, partnerships, publications, documentaries, higher education. Also we identified opportunities to continue our endless journey to Beijing.

Beijing: Presenting a Vision on the Global Stage

With the insights and strategies developed in Limbe, the team traveled to Beijing, where they presented their vision of storytelling as a transformative tool in evaluation at the United Nations National Evaluation Capacities meeting. In discussions with the United Nations, the storytelling team shared the outcomes from Limbe and demonstrated how storytelling could amplify community voices, offering a more holistic view of impact beyond numbers.

Presenting their work in Beijing marked the culmination of a journey that transformed participants and sparked conversations around the world. This meeting helped position storytelling as a powerful force for evaluation, bridging scientific rigor with human experience. Together with international leaders, the team explored ways to incorporate storytelling into national and global evaluation practices, setting the stage for future projects that recognize the power of narrative.

Reflections on the Journey: Flowing Toward a Future of Transformation

This journey from Entebbe to Limbe and finally to Beijing was more than physical travel; it was a movement of shared experiences, ideas, and cultures, united by the common goal of making science accessible and impactful. Just like rivers, we flow across borders, collecting insights that deepen our understanding of the world. Each stop on this journey—Entebbe’s connections, Limbe’s bridge, and Beijing’s vision—contributed to a growing movement that challenges the boundaries between research and human experience.

As we continue this journey, the ocean remains a timeless witness to our stories, reminding us that the power of storytelling is infinite and endlessly renewing. We dare not linger; the movement flows onward, inviting more voices to join, more stories to be told, and more minds to open to the transformative power of stories and science.

We have walked a long road with storytelling, capturing the attention of several partners—governments, researchers, academia, cultures, and development agencies – but we dare not linger, for the road ahead is even steeper. Today we are in Cape Town with storytellers from South Africa, the Thanda Choir, from Khayelitsha. We must keep the fire burning to light our paths as we continue to impact the world with this African gift of storytelling.