Call for papers: ASAUK 2026: Narrative, Power and the Making of African Worlds

Please note, the dates and times are not for the conference itself, but to notify colleagues of the call for papers. 

This conference invites participants to reflect on how stories are made, who gets to tell them, and what they do in the world. In African studies, narrative is never merely literary: it structures policy, development agendas, transitional justice mechanisms, data infrastructures, activist movements, ecological imaginaries, and more. We propose “narrative” not only as a mode of storytelling but as a contested field of meaning-making, where competing visions of African pasts, presents, and futures take shape. The ASAUK Conference will be held from 10th to 12th September 2026 at Durham University.

We invite abstracts for the ASAUK 2026 Conference: Narrative, Power and the Making of African Worlds, taking place at Durham University from 10–12 September 2026.

You can view the full list of conference streams and identify the most suitable one for your proposed paper below:

Streams for ASAUK26 Conference

When submitting your abstract, you will be asked to select a stream. Abstracts will be reviewed by the relevant stream convenors. If you would like to discuss the suitability of your presentation for a particular stream in advance, please contact the stream organiser directly. Papers that do not fit within specific streams should be submitted via the ‘open stream’ on the submission system. 

Abstracts (maximum 1,000 characters, approximately 200 words) should be submitted under the heading “Abstract Additional Comments.” The deadline for abstract submissions is 22 May 2026. The abstract submission system can be accessed here. For details about conference registration, please visit: https://pay.durham.ac.uk/event-durham/asauk-2026