From Ritual to Retail: Trajectories of Black Soap from Africa to the world.
Project by Polygence alum Wilma
Project's result
The outcomes of my project include both tangible deliverables and personal growth in research methods: Research materials & organization A well-structured bibliography of research papers, organized in Zotero. A research diary documenting my evolving questions, reflections, and discoveries. Bibliographies of tools, resources, artworks, and guidelines relevant to my research. Detailed session notes and recordings from mentor meetings. Final outputs A research paper/portfolio that combines my findings in an organized way. A presentation slideshow summarizing my research question and key findings. A website showcasing my project and ideas. A video presentation from the Polygence Symposium. Supplementary work An additional separate research outline/project developed early on, which can serve as a complement or supplement to my main project. Skills & methods Gained experience with data analytics by analyzing traffic and interaction on my website. Improved organization, planning, and digital research skills.
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Summary
What if Soap Had a Passport?
Black soap, rooted in local rituals and traditional medicine, has traveled through migration, trade, and digital networks, evolving from a local product to a global cosmetic. This movement changes the soap, the ways it’s used, and the identities of those who make and use it.
This project explores how black soap has evolved across the African diaspora and beyond, showcasing its adaptation through ever-shifting soap-making techniques over time, and how these variations reflect deeper cultural, medicinal, economic, and societal meanings.
Created as an interactive website, the project draws from travel writing, chemical studies, and personal experimentation with black soap. Through digital storytelling and visual documentation, it traces how black soap travels with its makers—transforming both its recipe and its meaning along the way.
Ultimately, this project invites us to reconsider the mundane. It shows how everyday objects like soap can carry histories of sustainability, memory, and heritage—and opens new conversations around consumption, tradition, and self-care in postcolonial Africa and beyond.
Kristen
Polygence mentor
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Subjects
History, Social Science
Expertise
History; Anthropology; STS (Science, Technology & Society Studies); Environmental History; Medical Anthropology; colonial, post-colonial, de-colonial studies; feminist anthropology; the social study of science and technology; East African history; Imperialism; social science; creative writing & ethnographic writing/autoethnography
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Wilma
Student
Hello, my name is Wilma, nice to meet you! I’m a student in graphic design who loves history and anything digitally artsy. I often describe myself as someone who’s ticklish to curiosity. I do a lot of video work, but I love design. My work explores the intersection of tradition, digital creativity, and even everyday life—I’m fascinated by what makes humankind, well, humankind. My project talks about the history of African black soap and how it started as a small tradition of African knowledge and traveled across Africa to become a global sensation. I retrace the economical aspects, the different recipes used along the way, the reasons for the ingredients alongside their medicinal purposes and cosmetic intentions, as well as some traditional African skincare practices and many other goodies you should check out—if you’re curious. I did this project because education is something important to me, and I wanted to bridge a gap in African digital humanities and also highlight narratives and stories that aren’t talked about enough or are underrepresented. Also… because I’m a soap geek. After this project, I would like to study art direction at a design school.
Graduation Year
2024
Project review
“I never thought I would be able to do a research project at such a young age and at such a fast pace. For me, research always seemed like something huge, extensive, and out of reach. But I’m so happy that Polygence made it a tangible experience—one that I could actually do at my age, and that so many other students also have the chance to create for themselves. This project was definitely challenging, but it was also incredibly rewarding. It reshaped the way I see research. Now, I see it less as a heavy, intimidating process and more as a conversation. It often begins with just a question, then expands into exploration, deeper inquiry, and connection with other people’s perspectives. That shift in mindset was powerful for me. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Was it painful sometimes? Also yes. But at the end of the day, I have a project that I can look at with pride—something that reflects all the time, effort, and growth I’ve poured into it. The process pushed me to grow in planning and organization skills, whether it was writing the paper, deciding which events to join, or learning how to take feedback and criticism with openness. I also learned to seek out new resources, even outside my specific field, to better understand and enrich my own research. One of the best surprises was finding a mentor who matched my interests so closely. I thought my topic was too specific, but through Polygence I connected with someone who really understood what I wanted to study. That exceeded my expectations and made the experience even more impactful. In the end, I feel accomplished. Taking an idea and turning it into a real project is no small task—it requires creativity, resilience, and openness. If someone has a specific passion they want to explore, I would absolutely encourage them to pursue it. Chances are, someone out there has thought about it too and can help—but if not, you have the chance to carve out an entirely new path. And that, to me, is a powerful move.”
About my mentor
“My experience with my mentor completely exceeded my expectations. At first, I never thought I’d be matched with someone so specific to my project, but Kristen turned out to be the perfect fit. She wasn’t just broadly knowledgeable—she truly understood the African humanities and was able to connect my topic of African Black Soap to so many different fields: history, geography, linguistics, medicine, even chemistry. Every time I brought up an idea, she seemed to know exactly how to help me explore it further, while still leaving room for my own perspective and creativity. What inspired me the most was how she helped me reframe research. She showed me that it’s not just something that sits on paper—it’s a conversation, something alive that can even grow into a lifelong project. Her guidance opened my eyes to new horizons I hadn’t even imagined, and she encouraged me to see my project not as a finished product but as something I can continue building on in the future. In terms of mentorship, she was always supportive, inspiring, and deeply encouraging. She pushed me to double-check my sources, be thoughtful about language and perspective, and stay open to different approaches. At the same time, she gave me confidence through her affirmations and by truly listening to my ideas. I’m incredibly grateful for Kristen—her support, guidance, and encouragement made a huge difference in my work, and I feel very lucky to have had her as my mentor.”
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