05. May 2026

Call for Papers Conference: Beyond Chains and Choices: Legacies of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies in Africa December 2–4, 2026

Conference: Beyond Chains and Choices: Legacies of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies in Africa December 2–4, 2026

The University of Bonn, the Bonn Centre for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS), in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt, invites submissions for a multidisciplinary conference on asymmetrical dependencies in Africa.

Building on the framework of “Beyond Slavery and Freedom,” the conference explores how historical and contemporary forms of dependency, such as coercion, exploitation, and structural inequality, continue to shape societies across the continent.

We welcome contributions from the humanities and social sciences addressing topics including but not limited to slavery and post-slavery dynamics, forced labour, gendered dependencies, migration, and political and economic inequalities.

Beyond Chains and Choices Legacies of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies in Africa.png
Beyond Chains and Choices Legacies of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies in Africa.png © BCDSS
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The conference will bring together scholars from the humanities and social sciences to critically examine these issues through interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical approaches. It also aims to foster collaboration among researchers at the University of Port Harcourt, early-career scholars, postgraduate students, and international partners—particularly those affiliated with the BCDSS.

Proposals will be reviewed by the conference committee. Selected papers may be considered for publication in a special issue of an academic journal or an edited volume focusing on asymmetrical dependency, slavery, and unfreedom in Africa.

  • Abstract length: 250–300 words
  • Required information: Author name(s), institutional affiliation, and contact details
  • Submission email: chioma.onyige@uniport.edu.ng
  • Deadline: 31 May 2026