Dr. Philip Foday Yamba Thulla

Acting Dean ,School of Basic Education

Professional Profile

Dr. Philip Foday Yamba Thulla (PhD, Literature (NU); MA. Edu. (NU), Literature; B. A. Edu. Literature/Linguistics (USL, NU); H.T.C(P) (FTC)) is an Associate Professor of Literature at the Institute of Languages and Cultural Studies, Njala University, and serves as the Acting Dean of the School of Basic Education.

Philip Foday Yamba Thulla is a renowned scholar and researcher who has made significant contributions to literature, indigenous studies, and education. His writings highlight the value of indigenous education in preserving African culture and traditions.

Current Research Focus

Cultural and Literary Studies

Dr. Thulla's scholarly work spans multiple disciplines, with particular emphasis on African literature, cultural preservation, and indigenous knowledge systems. His research demonstrates a deep commitment to documenting and analyzing the rich oral traditions of Sierra Leone and West Africa.

Recent Scholarly Contributions

In his new chapter for Springer, Thulla explores how traditional Sierra Leonean music emphasizes the value of social, spiritual, and physical connections with the natural world—contrary to the scalability and wide-ranging applications of Western engineering approaches.

Academic Leadership

As Acting Dean of the School of Basic Education at Njala University, Dr. Thulla provides strategic leadership in educational policy and curriculum development. His administrative role complements his research interests in indigenous education systems and their application in contemporary African educational contexts.

Research Expertise

Dr. Thulla's research portfolio encompasses:

African Oral Literature: Documentation and analysis of traditional narratives, proverbs, and folk wisdom
Cultural Preservation: Digital archiving initiatives for indigenous knowledge systems
Educational Research: Reading competency studies and literacy intervention strategies
Cross-Cultural Studies: Comparative analysis of African and Western knowledge systems
Language Studies: Multilingual education and indigenous language preservation

Educational Philosophy

Dr. Thulla's work consistently emphasizes the intrinsic value of indigenous educational practices and their role in maintaining cultural identity while fostering academic excellence. His research advocates for educational approaches that honor traditional wisdom while embracing contemporary scholarly methods.

Academic Impact

Through his extensive publication record and leadership roles, Dr. Thulla has established himself as a leading voice in African literary studies and indigenous education research. His work bridges the gap between traditional knowledge systems and modern academic discourse, contributing significantly to the preservation and promotion of African cultural heritage.

Contact Info

+23276754366

Education

Refereed Journal Papers

Thulla, P. F. Y. (2024). Music is Culture, But is Technology?. In Consilience: Learning About Ourselves by Applying Indigenous Traditions to Western Music and Technology (pp. 49-56). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Adom, D., Chukwuere, J. E., Addo, I. A., Tabi-Agyei, E., & Thulla, P. F. Y. (2021). African proverbs for cultural education: A step towards digital archiving. Journal of history, culture and art research, 10(4), 44-59.

Thulla, P. F., Moriba, S., Adom, D., & Mensah-Gborie, M. N. (2022). The rate of reading poverty after the COVID-19 pandemic school shutdown and specific intervention strategies for lower primary school pupils in the southern province and western area of Sierra Leone. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 13(4), 689-696.

Thulla, P. F. Y., Moriba, S., & Thulla, J. E. (2024). Sustainability of the Structural and Semantic Parallels in African Proverbs and Riddles: A Case of Temne Proverbial and Riddling Sessions. Journal of Innovations in Art and Culture for Nature Conservation and Environmental Sustainability, 2(2).

Fofanah, I. M., Thulla, P. F. Y., & Moriba, S. (2021). Practitioners and uses of contemporary Mende folk literature in south-eastern Sierra Leone. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 10(6), 97-97.

Thulla, P. F. Y., & Fofanah, I. M. (2023). Constructivist Referents in Oumar Farouk Sesay's 'The Song of the Women of My Land'. Elsya: Journal of English Language Studies, 5(3), 270-284.

Adom, D., Thulla, P. F. Y., Fofanah, I. M., Nyadu-Addo, R., & Brewu, J. K. (2022). The Perceptions of Indigenous Language and Cultural Synergy in Ghana and Sierra Leone: A Cross-Cultural Study. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(9), 5398-5412.

Mbayo, A. F., Thulla, P. & Senesie, S. (2025). Assessing Reading Competence Between Sexes Using a Literature Teaching Approach. Adom Social Science and Humanities Journal, 1(2).

Books and Publications

Thulla, P.F.Y., Jones, H. & Baraka, H. (2022). A Dark Easter and Other Salone Short Stories Vol. 1 SLWS.

Thulla, P.F.Y., Challay, S., Jones, H. & Kanneh, V. (2022). A Handbook of English Grammar and Writing for College Students Vol. 1. Unilag Press.

Thulla, P.F.Y. & Thulla J. E. (2021). Mainman: The Confessions of a Thug. SLWS.

Thulla, P.Y. (2018). Mכnki εn di Twin Brכda Dεn /Monkey and the Twins (both Krio and English versions). African Storybook Initiative & Saide.

Thulla, J.E., & Thulla, P.Y. (2015). The Chameleon Goes Home, Charleston, SC USA: Llumina Press.

Research Focus Areas:

P.F.Y. Thulla's scholarly work spans African literature, cultural studies, language education, and indigenous knowledge systems. His research particularly emphasizes the preservation and digital archiving of African oral traditions, proverbs, and folk literature.

Team