HUMA Team at ECAS 2025: African, Afropean, Afropolitan

Between June 25-28 2025, members of the HUMA Team traveled to Prague, Czech Republic to participate in the European Conference of African Studies (ECAS) 2025. The theme of this year’s conference was “African, Afropean, Afropolitan.” The space produced valuable and convivial moments of scholarly exchange and connection. The research of our fellows is made possible by Carnegie Corporation of New York, Mellon Foundation, and Wenner-Gren Foundation.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Azza Mustafa Babikir Ahmed presented in the "Digitalization and the future of decent work in Africa" Panel convened by Evans Awuni (German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)) and Edwin Ambani Ameso (University of Leipzig).Ahmed's presentation, "Balancing Technological Innovation and Civic Responsibility: How AI startups are redefining the National Service in Ghana," is part of her ethnographic research on the impact of AI startups on the experiences of employed youth in Ghana's national service.

Through an empirical case study on MinoHealth AI Labs, a healthcare startup based in Accra, her paper explored the sociopolitical factors behind leveraging technological innovation for "societal benefit" and addressing the broader goals of national service programs. The paper highlighted the need for a nuanced approach to ensure that the engagement of AI startups in national service training contributes positively to both individual development and societal goals. 

“ECAS is always about reconnecting with old friends you studied with or had some form of collaboration with in the past, or about meeting new and potential colleagues. The brief conversations at a major conference are very important, as this is where business discussions take place.” -- Azza Mustafa Babikir Ahmed, PDRF

Doctoral Research Fellow Fanidh Sanogo presented in the "Masks, Masking, and Tentacles" Panel convened by Steven Van Wolputte (University of Leuven (KUL) and Jack Boulton (Université Libre de Bruxelles (UlB). Sanogo's presentation, "Girl is Makeup: Masking Mechanics In Ouagadougou," came from her ethnographic research on makeup technologies among girls in Ouagadougou. Her presentation considered makeup as a form of mask, actualising social codes and values through the help of body parts and tools and discussed the existential revelations and opportunities that everyday superpositions of live, analogue and digital makeup represent.

“Although my presence at ECAS was virtual, I found the panel which I participated in to be engaging and thought-provoking. I return to work, inspired by the stimulating questions that emerged from my interactions with well-established academics.” -- Fanidh Sanogo, DRF

Doctoral Research Fellow Linda Makgabutlane presented in the "Afropolitan Sounds and Texts" Panel convened by Sylvia Sylvia Antonia N. Nannyonga-Tamusuza (Makerere University) and Sunniva Hovde (Norwegian University of Science and Technology). Linda's presentation, "Sounds of Solidarity: Party People," part of her ongoing doctoral research examining the politics of performance and gathering in Black social life.

In this research, Makgabutlane examined how performance can be seen to animate Black social life, possibly acting as a counterforce to the post-colonial condition of Black subjection. She analyzed Party People, a monthly event within Black social life that formed part of nightlife in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2006 to 2008. Through the frame of this event, she explored how music and gathering within the urban context can be seen to shape the social imaginary of Black people and possibly influence their self-perception and performance of selfhood. She argued that nightlife, music and leisure activities, although not overtly political or utilitarian may have a positive impact on the social imaginary of Black people.

“Presenting and sharing my work at ECAS helped me further crystalise the main ideas I investigate in my research. ECAS provided a great opportunity to meet and engage with scholars with parallel research interests located in Africa and Europe.” -- Linda Makgabutlane, DRF

Doctoral Research Fellow Billan Omar presented in the "Somali Cosmopolitanism: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" Panel convened by Yusra Abdullahi (Leiden University) and Nereida Ripero-Muñiz (University of the Witwatersrand). Billan's presentation, "Qabiilkeed tahay? The Clan," is a chapter from her book: "Soomaali Mi'yaa? Exploring Somalinimo in South Africa."

The book looks at the ways in which Somalis in South Africa bring with them ideas of a racialized order, backed by clan lineages, with them to their new home. The significance of clan structures in Somali society is a double-edged sword -- Somalis extend family past the nuclear bubble, aiding others in the survival as a migrant, and definitions of who counts as a “true” Somali enlarges the rift between Somalis and South Africans. As a Gadabuursi, Omar found a sense of comfortability in Bellville. As a Somali, she was also treated as different from other Africans, sometimes questioned of my Africanity altogether. By framing the clan as one cultural tool utilised by Somalis, this book chapter displayed the intricacies of family ties from one’s original “homeland.”

“I will carry my experience at ECAS and the lessons learned with me for a long time. This was my first conference attendance of this scale, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be in community with friends, colleagues, and mentors -- old and new.” -- Billan Omar, DRF

Participating in international conferences is an integral part of the Institute’s mission of decolonial and transformative research collaborations. Members of the HUMA Team andf research community will be participating in the upcoming African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) 2025 conference in Cabo Verde on 24-27 September 2025. 

Visit the HUMA blog page for further updates on research dissemination and presentations from HUMA research fellows.