The 26th Annual Conference, September 13—15, 2023
University of the District of Columbia
Washington DC, USA

Conference Venue: University of the District of Columbia
Beautiful Van Ness Campus, with its famous Farmers Market
4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
(Right across the street from the embassies; a red line stop on the newest, cleanest, safest, and most beautiful Metrorail system in the United States; a 10-minute walk from Lovers' Point at Rock Creek Park where Washington DC’s homegrown Go-Go Music was born; a 15-minute walk from the National Zoo; easy access to and not too far from the African restaurants and shops at Adams Morgan, elegant stores and waterfront activities of historic Georgetown, United States government monuments and other edifices, national botanical gardens and cherry blossom walkways, Chesapeake Seafood market and eateries,  Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport, etc., etc., etc.)

Theme: Navigating the Crisis: Africa, the African Diaspora, and the Current Global Crisis

Subthemes: (a) Women and Gender; (b) Health; (c) Political; (d) Education; (e) Economics, Business, and Trade; (f) Social; (g) Technology; (h) Religion; (i) Climate Change and Environment; (j) Peace and Security

Brief Description

This 26th Annual Conference of the African Studies and Research Forum (ASRF) invites participants to present papers on ways to address issues of the current global crisis as they pertain to the African continent, people of African descent, institutions in the continent and the Diaspora, and relationships between Africa and other countries and regions around the world. The conference seeks to bring together researchers from around the globe and from various disciplines to take stock of current research and foster communication across approaches to the study of the stated phenomenon. In keeping with the spirit of diversity, we welcome abstracts for individual papers and colloquia/roundtables that engage with various topical and theoretical foci, types and sources of data, methodological questions, and practical applications. Selected papers will be considered for the ASRF Springer Book Series, the ASRF Global Africa Emerald Book Series, The Journal of the African Studies and Research Forum, and the Journal of African Policy Review.

Submission Guidelines

All submissions should include the following:

• Author(s) contact information and other details:
• Full name of principal presenter and contact information: affiliation, telephone number, mailing address, E-mail address. All return correspondence will be to this individual only.
• Full names, affiliations, and E-mail addresses of co-presenters if any.

Abstract details:

• Presentation title (15-word limit).
• Abstract (300-word limit for individual papers; 300 words for Colloquia/roundtables; colloquia/roundtables submissions must also include an abstract for each paper, up to 300 words). An abstract should provide an extended description of the presentation for review.
• Presentation Summary (50-word limit): A brief description to be included in the conference program.
• Abstracts should be prepared for anonymous review (no reference to the author or the author’s home institution in the abstract).

The proposal submission deadline is August 15, 2023. Early submissions are greatly encouraged.

To maximize participation opportunities at ASRF 2023, each individual is allowed two single-authored contributions and one co-authored contribution. (Presenting a paper, organizing a colloquium/roundtable, and serving as a colloquium/roundtable discussant each counts as one contribution.)

Individual Papers

Papers should be formal presentations that draw on theories and methods of one or more approaches on the topic.

Individual papers will be presented within a 15-minute period, plus ten minutes for discussion.

Colloquia/Roundtables

Colloquia/roundtables involve the presentation of multiple prepared papers on a related topic or theme, followed by structured discussions of those papers. They are typically scheduled for one and half-hour blocks. If more time is needed, organizers can submit a series of single sessions (i.e. Part I, Part II, etc.); these will be individually reviewed.

Colloquium/roundtable organizers should indicate the schedule for participants, with time allocated for opening and closing remarks, presentations, discussion, and audience response. Organizers may choose to participate in the session as a presenter or discussant.

Review Criteria

Review criteria include promise of a novel and productive contribution to Africa and its Diaspora; clarity and evidence of a well-organized, engaging presentation; and relevance to the ASRF 2023 theme. For colloquia/roundtables, criteria also include a clearly indicated schedule of activities, with an appropriate amount of time for discussion and audience participation.

How to Submit Abstract(s)

Please send your abstract(s) as an E-mail attachment with a short note indicating your interest and the title ASRF 2023 Abstract on the subject line to the following E-mail address:  [email protected].

For information on the ASRF, please visit the following website:  https://asrfonline.org/