Call for Papers (CFP) In recent years, labour and its many worlds have once again occupied a central place in historiographical debates on the history of the Americas. This renewed interest has not only brought a critical lens to hierarchies, coercion, and violence—both past and present—but has also sought to examine the agency, negotiations, connections, and strategies of those who, from below, acted amid various forms of inequality. We are grounded in a tradition of social and cultural labour history that seeks to understand the heterogeneous labour realities across the Americas. This field of study has placed workers—men and women—their families, support networks, spaces of socialisation, and lives in movement at the centre of analysis, enriching the notion of "worlds of labour" by showing how labour experiences are deeply intertwined with cultural values, political identities, and racial and gender relations. This fertile historiography has pushed beyond the factory, the union, and the white male worker as the privileged historical subject and beyond the classic periodisations that defined labour as a by-product of capitalism and the industrial revolution. From this perspective, we aim to contribute to the global and connected histories of labour, focusing on the period between the 16th and 19th centuries, and inviting reflections on how racial and gendered relations shaped these labouring worlds. We seek to make explicit how collective imaginaries of difference have been inscribed in labour dynamics, reinforcing, challenging, and subverting established hierarchies. We aim to echo these entangled conversations and are particularly committed to including the voices of young scholars from the global South—voices that have too often been sidelined in these historiographical debates. In addressing these absences, we highlight, on one hand, disparities in access to research funding and the pervasive preference for English as the default language for narrating the history of the Americas. On the other hand, we underscore the persistence of historiographical traditions that have long taken methodological nationalism as both their point of departure and arrival. We are especially interested in contributions that question, expand, or reframe methodological nationalism in the Americas by focusing on the transnational circulation of people, ideas, and labour practices. We welcome, in particular, studies that explore connections between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and labour circuits across the Pacific that can challenge Atlantic centrality. To that end, we invite research that explicitly employs connected history methodologies (e.g., multi-case studies, network analysis, prosopography, or transnational microhistory) and that integrates interdisciplinary approaches (history, anthropology, sociology, gender studies) to investigate the intersections of race, gender, and labour. By centring the Americas in this analysis, we open space for comparative and relational inquiries into colonisation, population movements, the imposition of diverse forms of coerced labour, and the formation of global markets and exchange networks. In this spirit, we encourage submissions in multiple languages (Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French) and, through a hybrid format, seek to broaden participation among researchers with limited access to funding or traditional academic venues. Important information: The seminar Between Two Oceans: Connected Histories of Labour, Race, and Gender in the Americas (16th–19th centuries) will take place on 12 November 2025 at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), in a hybrid format. The event is promoted by Laboratório de Pesquisas em Conexões Atlânticas (CNPq/PUC-Rio). We look forward to welcoming in-person and remote participants whose proposals are selected.   Submission: Submit your proposal in Portuguese, Spanish, or English. Abstract deadline (up to 250 words): July 31, 2025Extended abstract deadline (up to 12 pages): September 15, 2025 Submission link: https://forms.gle/hEyMuaTTBgK3NzpZ8Contact: fidelrodv@gmail.com / gmitidieri@gmail.comMore info: https://www.his.puc-rio.br/pb/4943-2/   Read more

Please join us for a panel discussion with our distinguished panelists, Professors Catherine Ngila, Ibraheem T. Badejo, Veronica Okello, Lucie T. Tchouassi, and Wunmi Sadik who will be sharing their expertise on "African Women in Science and Technology" Sunday, July 27, 202511 AM Austin5 PM Nigeria6 PM South Africa Register Here:https://www.tfinterviews.com/post/africanwomenscitech Join via Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84207007757    Read more

Workshop, University of Warsaw, 20-21 November 2025 The Warsaw Centre for Global History invites colleagues to participate in a workshop exploring theoretical and practical aspects of Eastern European development aid in Africa, as well as economic cooperation between Eastern European and African countries during the Cold War era.  For most of the 20th century, Eastern Europe and Africa shared experiences of underdevelopment and aspirations to overcome it. Decolonization in Africa opened a space for Eastern European countries, which themselves had experience of dependance, to engage in development aid on the continent. Given their experience during the interwar period in overcoming underdevelopment resulting from previous subjugation to European imperial monarchies, coupled with their emphasis on national economic sovereignty, these nations could serve as an attractive and alternative model for newly independent countries with similar ambitions.  The Cold War marked the emergence of development studies as a distinct academic discipline. Scholars from Eastern and Central Eastern Europe did not lag behind in this evolution. While Western studies of dependency and underdevelopment focused primarily on the Global South, researchers from the East could also draw on empirical materials from their part of the world. For example, in Poland, historian Marian Małowist identified the roots of underdevelopment in Eastern Europe and Africa in early modern history. Specialized academic chairs and institutes were established to research development issues and provide expertise. Additionally, these institutions offered educational exchange programs for visitors from developing countries. Internationally recognized economists such as Oskar Lange and Michał Kalecki conceptualized their observations and provided expertise to governments of developing countries in the Third World.  Eastern Europeans managed their development efforts while working to overcome underdevelopment in their home countries, a fact acknowledged by their leadership. These countries could not match the volume and scope of development aid provided by the West. While they spoke the Soviet language of solidarity, domestic economic performance more than ideological factors seemed to inform their developmental initiatives. Development aid also involved some degree of competition, not only with the West but also inside the Eastern bloc. Eastern European countries generally steered clear of Soviet efforts to coordinate development initiatives in the regional framework. Instead, they engaged in what scholars refer to as "socialist bilateralism."  States played a significant role in promoting socialist development aid efforts. Communist parties influenced the geography of development aid by regulating the movement of expertise, controlling who could enter or leave their countries. In addition, East European experts were carefully selected to represent the appropriate ideological profile. Nevertheless, direct contacts with citizens of the Global South opened up opportunities for the exchange of ideas on the pitfalls of development policy in countries ruled by progressive regimes within Socialist societies that were subject to official censorship. Internal discussions among Communist Party members, meetings of their International Departments, and the proceedings of specialized international commissions provided a platform for exchanging views on development directions and models. Historians of Eastern European anti-colonial social movements recognize that, although these movements were closely linked to the state, there was still a degree of criticism directed at their countries’ excessive or insufficient development efforts in the decolonizing world. Additionally, popular culture, magazines, analyses by economic experts, press bulletins aimed at Communist party members and state apparatus, as well as journalistic accounts all contributed to disseminating knowledge about the societies and cultures of African countries. We are specifically seeking contributions based on these diverse official and unofficial documents in relation to the following problems: 1. The concept of the development Among the key topics to be discussed is the very idea of development. Scholars agree that its origins can be traced to the late colonial era, specifically in the European colonial powers’ discourse on the so-called civilizing mission. Among the justifications of colonial rule was the responsibility to participate in the advancement of economic and social conditions of the colonized societies. By the post-World War II period, development discourse had taken a different tone, emphasizing the need to transform Africa according to patterns imposed by the West or the East.  From the economic point of view, development drew the line between the industrialized countries and resource-producing agrarian economies.  The discussants will try to answer the following questions: In what ways (if any?) did the Eastern European concept of development differ from the contemporary Western, postcolonial or Soviet, anti-imperial models? What criteria and parameters were used as determinants of development? 2. The flow of knowledge on development We would also like to consider the flow of knowledge on development. Since the 1950s, political economy and research into the challenges faced by the developing world have reflected global tensions, diverging into two distinct approaches: one focused on pro-market developing economies and the other on those with socialist orientations. Early Western development theories, which eventually dominated the field, were informed by the experiences of the so-called first generation of newly industrialized countries - in other words developing nations – in Latin America or East Asia who had prioritized pro-market orientation. The focus of development models would evolve – from industrialization to the provision of basic needs via agriculture before the neoliberal model emerged in 1980s.  How did international debates on development resonate in Eastern European countries? Did these countries create distinct theories on development? If so, was this expertise based on first-hand contacts with the new nations in Africa and recognition of their unique conditions? Or was it an adaptation of Eastern European Marxism and their own experience in fighting against underdevelopment? 3. The rationale for providing aid Eastern European countries used the language of solidarity to emphasise their separation from colonial legacies and their specific approach to development aid. It would be valuable to explore the relationship between the official discourse and the motivations outlined in the internal documents of political parties, official journalism, or economic analyses. Were there efforts to understand the social specifics of Africa, considering the various paths of modernization? To what extent did development policies serve as tools for securing Eastern European countries’ specific interests, such as promoting Marxism-Leninism globally, accessing African markets, or the globalization of foreign policies? Furthermore, how did the official justifications and practices of development evolve over time in connection with changes in regimes, ruling elites, and their economic priorities? Of particular importance is the relationship between Eastern European development initiatives and the political regimes of African countries. Were Marxist-governed countries, such as Mozambique, Angola, and Ethiopia, treated differently from other African nations? 4. Planning and organization of expertise The development and organization of expertise could serve as a foundation for examining both the intentions behind state policies on cooperation with independent African countries, and the perceptual frameworks that accompany them. It would be interesting to study the practical and theoretical preparation of expert personnel travelling to Africa, whether for aid programs or profit-driven ventures. Contributions could consider programs in African studies, courses tailored to the specific needs of various fields related to Africa, language training, and health and diet counselling.    Scholars interested in attending the workshop are invited to send 300-word abstract, including the title, the current or a most recent academic affiliation and a short bio to: eeurope-africa@uw.edu.pl by September 1, 2025.   Notification of acceptance will be sent by September 15, 2025. Read more

 The African Critical Inquiry Programme has named Maja Jakarasi as recipient of the 2025 Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Award. Jakarasi, a Zimbabwean student in the Anthropology Department, is working on his PhD at the University of the Western Cape. Support from ACIP’s Ivan Karp Award will allow Jakarasi to pursue significant research for his dissertation. He will do ethnographic research in Rushinga District, Zimbabwe and across the border in Mozambique as well as archival work in Harare, Zimbabwe for his project, Spiritual Transformation, Healing, and Mental Illness in Contemporary Zimbabwe.             Founded in 2012, the African Critical Inquiry Programme (ACIP) is a partnership between the Centre for Humanities Research at University of the Western Cape in Cape Town and the Laney Graduate School of Emory University in Atlanta. Supported by donations to the Ivan Karp and Corinne Kratz Fund, the ACIP fosters thinking and working across public cultural institutions, across disciplines and fields, and across generations. It seeks to advance inquiry and debate about the roles and practice of public culture, public cultural institutions, and public scholarship in shaping identities and society in Africa through an annual ACIP Workshop and through the Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards, which support African doctoral students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences enrolled at South African universities. About Maja Jakarasi’s project: Jakarasi’s research project, Spiritual Transformation, Healing, and Mental Illness in Contemporary Zimbabwe, will address how healing practices have transformed from the Second Chimurenga to the political and socio-economic challenges that Zimbabwe is facing today. (The Second Chimurenga (1964-79) was Zimbabwe’s War of Independence.) Jakarasi’s research will explore the transformations of practices, meanings, and rituals that are apprehended as traditional against the backdrop of the current socioeconomic crises bedeviling Zimbabwe, crises that are traced back to the 1990s when the Zimbabwean government adopted the market-oriented Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP). ESAP liberalised, deregulated, and privatised the economy, which resulted in rapid and adverse sociocultural changes and inequalities. Through ethnographic work, Jakarasi will investigate traditional healing practices among the Shona people in Rushinga district, Mashonaland Central Province in Eastern Zimbabwe. What has been the significance of traditional healing practices to people on the ground and to society at large? How has this changed over the four decades since Zimbabwean independence in 1980? Which forms of spiritual transformation have been relevant to healing practices in Zimbabwe? Historical and archival research will expand the ethnographic work in order to capture the trajectories of change in traditional healing from the time of the second Chimurenga to the 21st century. Jakarasi will draw insights on the forms and importance of spiritual transformations and healing practices by synthesizing theoretical frameworks related to indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), explanatory models of illness, and comparative work on spiritual transformation and healing.  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                   Information about the 2026 Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards for African students enrolled in South African Ph.D. programmes will be available in November 2025. The application deadline is 1 May 2026.             For further information, see http://www.gs.emory.edu/about/special/acip.html and https://www.facebook.com/ivan.karp.corinne.kratz.fund. Contact Email ckratz@emory.edu URL https://gs.emory.edu/about/special/acip.html Read more

The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been hailed as a major museological achievement, a cutting-edge and high-tech advancement with the potential to shift global discourses on the repatriation of Pharaonic antiquities. And yet, little emphasis has been placed on how such discourses entrench existing museological norms, situating categories of “antiquity”, “artifact”, “treasure”, and “discovery” through extractive, colonial frameworks.  Decolonizing Archaeological Epistemologies is a conference critically examining archaeological histories and practices, proposing instead more expansive, democratic, and liberatory approaches to the past and material culture, challenging extant museological, academic, economic, and legal systems governing the ways that material culture is collected, studied, and traded. With implications spanning beyond Egyptology to archaeology, museology, and historical disciplines more broadly, this conference proposes a counter-colonial approach that rethinks the status of the historical object in the public eye. Sessions include: Beyond “treasure”; challenging artifactual ontologies and epistemologies    Counter-colonial museum exhibition strategies   Resisting archaeological extractivism; new approaches to field-based research  Community-based archaeology in theory and practice     Beyond the “thing itself”; digital and ephemeral approaches to archaeological collections  Who gets the past? New discourses in restitution, return, and repair   Keynote: Dr. Monica Hanna (Arab Academy for Science Technology and Maritime Transport) Scholars engaging with these themes at a graduate, post-graduate, or professional level are invited to apply. Scholars working in the Global South are particularly encouraged to apply. Small travel stipends are available on a limited basis to offset travel costs.  Interested participants are requested to submit a 250 word abstract and contact information via the form below by August 15, 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/BTewqkNM9U    Read more

Are you ready to connect your classroom with the world? MSU’s Center for Global Learning and Innovation, Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), and African Studies Center (ASC) invite faculty from any discipline to apply for the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Faculty Fellows Program-Africa (Cohort 3)! 🌍 What is COIL?An innovative teaching method that brings together faculty and students from different countries for shared, virtual, intercultural learning experiences. ✨ Tracks Available:✅ Track 1: Bilateral COIL — 1 MSU + 1 African faculty | US$1,500/team✅ Track 2: Trilateral COIL — 1 MSU + 1 African + 1 HBCU faculty | US$3,000/team 📚 Requirements: No prior COIL experience needed! Must have an existing course in 2026 to integrate COIL. Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026 options. 🎓 Benefits: Stipend per faculty member 5-week COIL training (Oct 6–Nov 7, 2025) Join a vibrant fellows’ community of practice Present your project idea at the COIL Symposium 📅 Deadlines:🔗 Individual Interest Form: Aug 10, 2025 —https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8pQV8tBI70klX9k🔗 Team Application Form: Sept 7, 2025 — https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5dxi1097iTi5gd8 💡 Bring your students a global experience, grow your network, and help shape the future of intercultural learning in Africa! 👉 Questions? Reach out to Marilyn Amey (amey@msu.edu) Apply now — let’s COIL Africa together! 🌐✨ #COIL #GlobalLearning #AAP #MSU #FacultyOpportunity #InternationalEducation Read more

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural African Women in Data Science Fellowship. This timely initiative responds to the growing demand for data-driven leadership to tackle the pressing challenges of food insecurity and climate change across Africa. We invite ambitious African women with foundational experience in data-related work and a strong motivation to deepen their skills and apply data science for transformative impact in agrifood systems and climate resilience. The Fellowship aims to enhance the leadership and technical capabilities of African women professionals utilizing data science to foster inclusive, evidence-based innovation in agrifood systems and climate resilience. Building on AWARD’s proven track record in cultivating African women leaders in agricultural research and development, the program adapts our Fellowship model to meet the demands of an evolving data and technology landscape. The program targets African women from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi with demonstrated experience in data-related roles and a commitment to applying data for development. Fellows will be drawn from diverse sectors, including government, academia, research, civil society, development agencies, and the private sector. A Transformative Learning Experience Inspired by the AWARD Fellowship model, the African Women in Data Science Fellowship offers a rigorous 12-month career-accelerating journey for African women working at the intersection of data science, agriculture, and climate resilience. As a Fellow, you will engage in the following core activities: Participate in a 7-day, face-to-face women’s leadership course designed to strengthen your confidence, influence, and capacity to lead data-driven solutions (November 2025). Join a 2-week immersive in-person data science training course covering Python programming, machine learning, data wrangling, visualization, and statistical analysis (February 2026). Complete a 2-month virtual course focused on the application of data science tools to real-world challenges in agrifood systems and climate resilience (April – May 2026). Design and implement a data-driven capstone project addressing a practical issue in agriculture or climate. You will receive modest seed funding and technical guidance for project execution (February – September 2026). Undertake a competitive short-term institutional placement (1–3 months), known as Advanced Science Training (AST), within your home country. This placement provides an opportunity to apply your skills in a real-world setting and further deepen your technical expertise (May – September 2026). Receive ongoing guidance from senior data science professionals through structured mentoring relationships, including orientation, check-ins, and goal setting (March – November 2026). Participate in knowledge-sharing sessions, storytelling activities, and professional engagement opportunities through AWARD’s network (Throughout the fellowship). By the end of the Fellowship, participants will be better equipped to lead data-driven initiatives, advocate for inclusive innovation, and serve as visible role models in Africa’s growing data science and development ecosystem. Application Deadline: July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (GMT+3). applications will NOT be accepted after this deadline. Applicants should carefully read the application guidelines for more information on eligibility criteria and the application process.Apply: https://form.jotform.com/251594644696977  Read more

Deadline: Jul 30, 2025 Donor: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition Grant Type: Training Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000 Countries/Regions: Kenya Area: Financial Management, Agriculture Food & Nutrition, Food Safety, Nutrition, Businesses, Companies and Enterprises, Entrepreneurship Submissions are now open for the Nutrition Impact at Scale Incubation Program that is a powerful crash course on entrepreneurship – as well as adapting a nutrition lens the business. For more information, visit https://gain.nakurubox.co.ke/incubation/ Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/nutrition-impact-at-scale-incubation-program-2025-kenya Read more

Deadline: Sep 30, 2025 Donor: International Orthodontics Foundation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000 Countries/Regions: All Countries Area: Innovation, Research, Science, Technology The Advanced Innovation Grants (AIG) supports projects beyond early stages, enabling larger-scale applications and multicenter research. For more information, visit https://researchgrants.iofglobal.org/v3/advanced/innovation Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/call-for-proposals-advanced-innovation-grants Read more

Deadline: Oct 31, 2025 Donor: International Orthodontics Foundation Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000 Countries/Regions: All Countries Area: Individuals, Researchers, Innovation, Research The Emerging Innovation Grants (EIG) provide seed funding for novel ideas and pioneering research at various stages of development, with the goal of fostering groundbreaking advancements in orthodontics. For more information, visit https://researchgrants.iofglobal.org/v3/emerging/innovation Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/request-for-proposals-emerging-innovation-grants Read more

Deadline: Sep 01, 2025 Donor: Eva Crane Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000 Countries/Regions: All Countries Area: Innovation, Research The Eva Crane Trust is accepting grant applications to foster innovative projects and collaborations that explore and expand knowledge in apology, beekeeping practices, and the historical significance of bees. For more information, visit https://www.evacranetrust.org/en/page/apply-for-funding Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/apply-for-eva-crane-trust-grant-program Read more

Deadline: Sep 22, 2025 Donor: Epic Games Grant Type: Grant Grant Size: $100,000 to $500,000 Countries/Regions: All Countries Area: Business & Industry, Individuals, Innovation, Technology Applications are now open for the Epic MegaGrants Program that invests in promising new projects from their community as they push real-time 3D development to new heights. For more information, visit https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/megagrants Premium Link: https://grants.fundsforngospremium.com/opportunity/op/call-for-applications-epic-megagrants-program Read more