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In a globalized world, language regiments the flow of knowledge. Against the background of its "difficult heritage", Afrikanistik as the study of African languages, literatures and texts is in a privileged position to mediate heterotopic and heterogeneous knowledge practices. We invite young scholars to recalibrate Afrikanistik with their innovative ideas in dialogue with African Studies.

RecAf Spring School 2021 - Popular Culture and Arts in Africa
29 - 2 April 2021

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How do we discuss popular culture in Africa, and in what ways does it stand opposed to ‘high’ art and literature? While on the one hand, not tied to a canon, popular culture is, on the other hand, not unrelated to mass media and consumption: How can popular culture be subversive?

Grant Proposal Write-Up Capacity Building - MATCHING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH RESEARCH TOPICS
7 - 9 January 2021

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“Recalibrating Afrikanistik” (RecAf) and the Graduate School Global and Area Studies (GSGAS), University of Leipzig, invite young researchers and lecturers working in the broader fields of African Languages and Literatures for a three-day workshop on the procedures of writing grant proposals.

What if?

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What if linguistics had emerged differently? Listen now to Anne Storch (Cologne University) answering to the possibility of expanding conceptualizations of language, in conversation with literature, art, film and poetry.

Monthly RecAf Reading Group

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Since current travel restrictions are preventing face-to-face exchange between RecAf partners and associates, we initiated a Reading Group that takes place online on a monthly basis

1st Blog Entry – Prof. Rose Marie Beck: At the Boundaries of the Speakaboutable

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The current events around the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S. have elicited a global debate on racism and unresolved persisting inequalities. As dean and professor at the Institute for African Studies at Leipzig University, Prof. Rose Marie Beck has observed extensive student solidarity with the movement, as well as a certain insecurity concerning how to act in a responsible manner.

Recaf - Winter School
21 - 30 January 2020

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The winterschool shall enable students interested in postcolonial debates to gain insight into knowledge practices in and around African languages and literatures, and their relevance for African and Area Studies: How does knowledge in and about African languages contribute to a deeper understanding of postcolonialism?

Where are we heading?

  1. goal-1

    A critical debate about the history and objects of our discipline

  2. Languages, literatures and texts as situated knowledge practices

  3. Joint knowledge production with young scholars and six partner universities