African Studies Group Symposium 2025 - University of Melbourne

ASG Symposium 25 - Event Registration and Abstract Submission

Theme: “African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Ways of Knowing – A Conversation on Traditions, Modernity and the Future”

Date: Wednesday, 29TH October 2025

Venue: Carillo Gantner Theatre, Sydney Myer Building, Parkville Campus, The University of Melbourne

About the Symposium

The African Studies Group (ASG) invites students, researchers, and academics to submit abstracts for the African Studies Group Symposium 2025. This year’s theme seeks to explore African Indigenous Knowledge Systems as a foundation for rethinking traditions, engaging with modernity, and imagining futures. We welcome submissions that critically and creatively engage with indigenous knowledge systems in Africa and the diaspora, as well as comparative perspectives with other regions. Contributions may include completed research, ongoing work, thesis chapters, or works-in-progress, as the symposium is designed to be a space for dialogue, reflection, and exchange.

• Accepted presentations will receive a certificate of participation.
• Selected abstracts will be featured on the ASG website, and their authors will be invited as guest speakers at future ASG monthly seminars.
• Outstanding student presentations will be formally recognized and eligible for prizes.

Streams and Topics

Stream 1 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing in the Arts and Humanities

1. Indigenous philosophies and epistemologies in dialogue with contemporary critical theory.
2. Oral traditions, storytelling, and historical memory in digital, local and diasporic contexts.
3. Music, dance, and performance as evolving knowledge systems (e.g., Afrofuturism, hip-hop, global fusions).
4. Indigenous languages as carriers of knowledge and their role in contemporary multilingual societies.

Stream 2 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Society, Governance, and Education

1. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution and governance.
2. Indigenous educational philosophies in dialogue with global/modern systems.
3. Spirituality, religion, and cosmology in indigenous thought.
4. Gender roles and indigenous practices.
5. Comparative indigenous knowledge systems in Africa and the Americas, Asia, and Oceania: shared narratives, adaptation, and resilience
6. Decolonizing entrepreneurship and rethinking economic policy from an African indigenous perspective.

Stream 3 – Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Science and Technology

1. Indigenous ecological knowledge: Advancing climate science, environmental conservation, and sustainable futures.
2. Traditional medicine and healing in conversation with biomedical and global health sciences.
3. Indigenous agricultural systems, food security, and climate resilient agri-tech innovation.
4. Artificial intelligence and digital transformation: Opportunities and challenges for indigenous knowledge systems in the age of AI and Big Data
5. The ethics of technology in the African context.
6. Indigenous engineering and architecture: From ancestral practices to modern design—resilience, sustainability, and cultural innovation.

Submission Guidelines and Important Dates

• Abstract length: 200–300 words [for artists, send an Expression of Interest (EOI)]
• Format: Include title, author(s), affiliation, keywords, and email address(es)
• Submission deadline: Friday, 10th October 2025
• Notification of acceptance: Wednesday, 15th October 2025

We accept abstracts for:

• Individual papers (10 minutes + discussion)
• Work-in-progress presentations.
• Thesis chapters or drafts
• Academic papers (completed or ongoing)
• Creative presentations aligned with the symposium theme and streams

Registration

Attendance at the symposium is free. Refreshments and dinner will be provided.

How to Submit an Abstract/EOI

Please send your abstract or EOI and a short bio (not more than 100 words) through this form: ASG Symposium 2025 Submission Form

Contact

For questions or further information, please contact the ASG team at: [email protected]

Collaborations, Funding and Logistical Support

We appreciate the partnership with 13.12 Arts, the University of Melbourne Chancellery Civic and Community Engagement and Partnerships (GCE), and the generous funding from the Peter McPhee Community Impact Grants, and Graduate Student Association Special Grants, and the .

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Swanston Street, Parkville, Australia