(26.04.22) Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the African Studies Association of Africa decided to hold the conference in hybrid form in Cape Town, South Africa this year, allowing scholars from all over the world to participate on a virtual basis, regardless of their situation.

So from 11 to 16 April 2022, researchers in the field of African studies came together for the conference in various ways, taking the opportunity to engage in dialogue with each other again and drawing inspiration from talks on current research.

The main theme of the conference “Africa and the Human: Old questions, new imaginaries” was reflected in the conference programme in a range of different ways. Many of the presentations generated lively discussion and highlighted the need for a change of perspective.

Participants who attended in person also had the opportunity to take part in excursions through Cape Town and join various workshops. For virtual participants, a live stream was provided that enabled them to follow all talks and panels as well as most of the workshops.

In addition, registered conference participants were invited to find out about the offerings of publishers, academic service providers and research institutions in an exhibition hall on site that also offered virtual access via a video and chat function.

“Research in Germany” was involved as an exhibitor with a virtual stand showing various research and funding opportunities in the field of African studies in Germany. At the virtual stand, visitors were able to gain an initial impression of the German research landscape based on the information material provided. They were also able to chat with representatives of the initiative in video consultation sessions, enabling them to obtain in-depth advice.

Furthermore, the “Research in Germany” initiative took the opportunity to invite conference participants and anyone else interested in the subject to an online workshop on 12 April. Under the title “African Studies and Funding Opportunities in Germany”, representatives of various research and funding institutions provided conference participants with extensive information on cooperation and additional research and funding opportunities in the field of African studies. The participating experts reflected the diverse range of African studies research being pursued at German institutions and facilitated lively discussion of current developments in the field in terms of research and funding.

Participating institutions:

• Point Sud Programme
• Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA)
• Transregio “Future Rural Africa: Future making and Social ecological Transformation”
• Africa Centre for Transregional Research (ACT)
• Arnold Bergstraesser Institute (ABI)
• European Conference on African Studies (ECAS)
• Vereinigung für Afrikawissenschaften in Deutschland (VAD)
• DAAD
• DFG

Further information on the conference:

• https://2022conference.as-aa.org/

Further information on the “Research in Germany” initiative:

• https://www.research-in-germany.org