Conférence Howard University 2027 : Savoirs et Langues

Contexte

The 3rd Howard University African Indigenous Knowledge and Languages (AIKAL) Conference will take place on 19–20 February 2027 under the theme “African Indigenous Knowledge, Languages, Community, and Youth Empowerment in the Digital Era.” Organised by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, Department of African Studies, and the Center for African Studies, the conference will be held virtually via Zoom.

The conference will bring together scholars, educators, policymakers, activists, Africanists, Indigenous knowledge holders, linguists, creative writers, cultural practitioners, community leaders and students interested in the present and future of Africa and its Diaspora.

About the Conference: The 2027 AIKAL Conference continues discussions from the previous conference, which highlighted the need to move beyond simply documenting the erosion of African languages, Indigenous knowledge systems, ecological resources and cultural practices.

African Indigenous knowledge systems and languages are living and evolving systems through which communities transmit history, philosophy, identity, ecological knowledge and social values. The conference will therefore focus on approaches that promote revitalisation, intergenerational transmission, community ownership, institutional engagement and meaningful youth participation.

The organisers are seeking innovative research, community-based initiatives and transformative practices that examine what is working, what challenges remain and what changes are necessary to place communities and young people at the centre of knowledge production and transformation.

Missions et responsabilités

• Present research, community initiatives, or transformative practices aligned with the conference theme during the virtual sessions on 19–20 February 2027.
• Contribute to discussions on revitalisation, intergenerational transmission, community ownership, institutional engagement, and youth participation regarding African Indigenous knowledge and languages in the digital era.
• Participate either through individual paper presentations organised into panels or through complete panel presentations.
• Optionally submit presented papers for peer review and potential inclusion in an edited volume.

Profil recherché

Researchers and other contributors may submit work addressing any of the following areas (Conference Sub-Themes):

• Herbal medicine
• Indigenous foods
• Indigenous conflict resolution
• Indigenous governance
• Indigenous forms of communication
• Indigenous women and development
• Indigenous environmental sustainability
• African Indigenous languages
• Folklore, music and proverbial wisdom
• Indigenous scripts and preservation of Indigenous languages and literature
• Documentation and preservation of endangered African languages
• Agriculture and Indigenous practices
• Archaeological findings and African languages
• Indigenous education
• African languages in the digital age
• Indigenous economies
• African Indigenous law
• Indigenous youth voices
• Indigenous forms of diplomacy
• African literature
• Indigenous gender relations
• Indigenous epistemologies
• Cultural spaces
• Documentation and digitalisation of Indigenous knowledge
• Indigenous science and technology
• Indigenous astronomy
• Indigenous knowledge transmission and the Diaspora
• Indigenous knowledge forms and artificial intelligence
• African languages and artificial intelligence

Conditions et avantages

• Format : Virtual via Zoom.
• Publication Opportunity : Papers presented at the conference may subsequently undergo peer review. Papers that are accepted for publication following the review process will be published in an edited volume, providing contributors with an opportunity to further develop their conference presentations into scholarly publications addressing African Indigenous knowledge, languages, culture, education, technology and related fields.
• Acceptance Notifications : Expected by 20 November 2026.

Dossier de candidature

• For Individual Paper Proposals: Clear identification of the sub-theme under which the proposed presentation falls and an abstract describing the research, community initiative, practice or topic intended to be presented. Should include the applicant’s first and last name, email address, institutional affiliation, presentation type, paper title, selected sub-theme and abstract.
• For Panel Proposals: Relevant sub-theme identification, a 250-word summary describing the overall focus and contributions of the panel, names and institutional affiliations of three or four panelists, presentation topic for each participant, and a 250-word abstract for each panelist.
• Submission Format: Applicants must submit their abstracts through the designated online submission form and indicate the relevant conference sub-theme, specifying whether the participant intends to present virtually or in person, although the 2027 conference itself is scheduled to be conducted virtually.

Comment postuler

Interested scholars, students, educators, Indigenous knowledge holders, practitioners and other eligible contributors should prepare their paper or panel proposal according to the relevant submission requirements.

The abstract should be submitted through the official conference application form before 10 November 2026.

Participants should submit their abstracts through the designated AIKAL Conference Google Form and carefully review the submission requirements before applying. Applicants should retain confirmation of their submission and monitor their email for acceptance notifications.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY