Azra Rajah

Ms Azra Rajah

Lecturer

Qualifications:

BA in English Literature and Applied Language Studies (NMU), BA Honours in Applied Language Studies (cum laude) (NMU), MA Applied Language Studies (NMU)

 

Modules:

LEL1001; LELV111; LEPV102; LEPV112; LESV201; LESV202; LKL1001.

Area of expertise / Research interests:

Critical Discourse Analysis, Sociolinguistics, Women and Gender Studies, Hip Hop, Media Studies. 

Bio:

Azra Rajah (she/her) is an associate lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics and social media coordinator for the Faculty of Humanities. A jill-of-many-trades, her experience across private and public South African higher education institutions, and includes tutoring, lecturing, administration, project coordination, and research assistance.  Her research interests include Sociolinguistics, Critical Discourse Analysis, Media Studies, Women and Gender Studies, and Hip Hop Culture. Specifically, her research foci examines the intersection of Linguistics, Gender Studies and Hip Hop Culture. Her advocacy for Black women's agency and autonomy is seen through her emerging scholarship on how Black women in South African and American hip hop culture subvert androcentric discourses of Black women. Beyond her academic work, she is actively involved in student mentorship and leadership development. She is the advisor of the NMU chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society, and a mentor for the HSRC Internship Programme.

Professional profiles:


Research:

Journal articles: 
Rajah, A. (2022). I’m a “Savage”: Exploring Megan Thee Stallion’s Use of the Politics of Articulation to Subvert the Androcentric Discourses of Women in Hip Hop Culture Educational Research for Social Change, 11 (1), 57-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2221-4070/2021/v11i1a5
 
Book chapter:
Rajah, A. (2022). Not a bitch but a B.I.T.C.H. In L. Cassim, & M.C. du Plessis, Is my queer body not strong enough? Pan-African writings and artwork (pp. 382 - 395). Johannesburg: Layla Cassim ERS Consultants CC & RedChord (Pty) Ltd.
 
Conferences:
Rajah, A. (2025). Black women's articulation of agency and autonomy in South African hip hop culture:
A Critical Discourse Analysis of Sanelly Moonchild's 'Thunda Thighs' (2020). Southern African Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Conference. Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha.    
 
Conference Panles:
Language, Knowledge, and Power (2021) Nelson Mandela University, Faculty of Humanities: School of Language, Media, and Communication | Panel: Decolonizing & Revitalizing the Curriculum. Gqeberha.
 

Awards:
Southern African Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Society "Best First-time Presenter 2025"