Details

The 8^th edition of the Swiss Researching Africa Days will take place on 25−26 October 2024 at the Institute for Social Anthropology, University of Bern. The biennial Swiss Researching Africa Days are held alternating with the international thematic conferences of the Swiss Society for African Studies. They are open to all disciplines representing African Studies. The objective of the meeting is to promote the exchange among the community of researchers working on Africa in Switzerland. Its goals are to

• present current research projects of MA- and doctoral students, post-docs and senior scholars;

• enhance the circulation of relevant information between these actors and the respective institutions;

• offer a platform for synergies and collaboration;

• enhance the visibility of African Studies in Switzerland, the universities and research institutions;

• promote the institutionalisation of African Studies.

General theme “Sustainability and Transformation”

The Swiss Society for African Studies celebrates its 50^th anniversary. In this context, the two concepts, sustainability and transformations, may be understood broadly and can be addressed from all angles and points of view. 

Call for papers

Following our call for panels we retained 14 panels grouped under four themes:

SUSTAINABILITY, KNOWLEDGE, AND TRANSFORMATIONS
Panel 1: Epistemologies, Plural Knowledges, and Narratives of Sustainability and Transformations
Panel 2: Impact is the precursor to Sustainability and Transformation
Panel 3: Towards sustainable language policies in Africa
Panel 4: Identifying Transformations in Africa through a Lusophone Lens: Interdisciplinary Contributions

PEACE, POLITICS, AND RELIGION
Panel 5: African Innovations for Sustainable Peace?
Panel 6: Is China’s presence in Africa sustainable?
Panel 7: Religious institutionalization in Africa: organizational practices and individual experiences
Panel 8: Women of Faith: Women’s Rights and Religious Associations in and beyond Africa

ECOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND FOOD
Panel 9: Land Use and Land Cover across Africa – present, dynamics and futures
Panel 10: Food and Nutrition in Africa facing Transformations: Past, Present and Future
Panel 11: Agroecology in Sub-Saharan Africa: sovereign transformations or new recipe for development arenas?

HISTORY AND ECONOMY OF URBAN SPACES
Panel 12: Building the sustainable African city
Panel 13: Urban commons in Africa: sustainable city development beyond market and state?
Panel 14: Transforming West African Cities in the mid-20th Century

For a full description of each panel please consult the Call for papers (pdf). Please submit your paper proposition directly to the convenors of the panel of your choice before 31 July 2024.

Call for posters

One of our aims is to present on-going or recently finished PhD research on a topic related to Africa at Swiss universities. The organizers invite researchers to submit a scientific poster (size A0, vertical orientation) on their PhD research for the Swiss Researching Africa Days. There will be time slots for the presentation of the posters during the conference. The posters will also be compiled as an electronic reader to be published on the website of the Swiss Society for African Studies. Please submit proposals for posters (pdf) to Veit Arlt (veit.arlt@unibas.ch). The deadline for submission is 31 August 2024.

Timeline

31 July 2024 Deadline for submission of paper proposals
9 September 2024 Publication of the detailed program and registration of participants

General assembly of the SSAS/SGAS/SSEA

The 50^th general assembly of the society will be held in the framework of the Swiss Researching Africa Days on Friday evening 25 October 2024.

Organisation

For the Board of the SSAS: Didier Péclard, Tobias Haller, and Veit Arlt
For the Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Berne: Tobias Haller