Submission Guidelines:
Paper Submissions: We welcome individual paper abstracts, special panels, roundtable discussions, workshop proposals and other presentation forms that critically engage with the conference theme. Interested participants should submit an abstract of no more than 250 words alongside a brief biography (50 words) that outlines their academic background and areas of expertise.
Films, Arts and Performance based submissions: We invite submissions for films, arts and performance that tackle the conference theme. These submissions should demonstrate innovative approaches to artistic curation, performance and filmmaking, from scriptwriting to editing and dissemination, and encourage submissions that experiment with cinematic, art and performance practices to inspire original forms of research in African Studies and map new possibilities for the discipline through visual media, art and performance. While all lengths are accepted, priority will be given to short and medium films (30 minutes maximum). Films must be in original language(s) with English subtitles. Selected filmmakers must send a file of their film for screening purposes and be present at the conference to participate in Q&A sessions following the screenings. Art-based/ Performance-based presentations involve one or more co-authors and will take place in two formats: (a) live art or performance or (b) Paper with live art or performance. Each format will be allocated 20 minutes, to include performance/ analysis/ documentation. The part of the performance or artistic action is required to be in live action (and not recorded or in digital format).
The abstract, workshop, special panel, roundtable, film, art and performance submission deadline is 15 January 2025. Authors will be notified by 15 April; with full papers are expected on 1 September 2025.
Optional: Full papers meeting the standards of the Editorial guidelines set forth will be considered for publication in the Bokutani: Journal of the African Studies Association of Africa. Selected authors will be contacted by one of our editors to discuss the possibility of publishing their paper in one of the journal’s special issues.
