All set for the 12th Iberian Congress of African Studies

Co-organized by Catalonia International, it will take place in Barcelona between 29 and 31 January

The motto of the 12th edition of the Iberian Congress of African Studies (CIEA) is "African responses to the decolonial dilemma".  The meeting will have its main headquarters at the Faculty of Geography and History of the University of Barcelona, ​​which will host more than 50 panels and the participation of more than 300 people between 29 and 31January. The Congress is open to everyone and not only to people from the academic field.

The University of Barcelona, ​​through the Group of Studies on Culture and Domination and the Group of Studies on African Societies (GECID-GESA), is the main organization behind the Congress, together with Catalonia International, Casa Àfrica, the History Centre of the University of Lisbon, and the Centre for African and Intercultural Studies. In addition, the Metropolitan Area of ​​Barcelona, ​​Barcelona City Council, the Centre for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona, ​​the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, ​​the autonomous social centre Antiga Massana and the CRAI Biblioteca de Fons Antic are also collaborating.

In this edition, the Congress will analyse from an interdisciplinary perspective -international relations, economics, history, sociology, anthropology and philosophy- the role of Africa in the constitution of a planetary society which can only be inclusive and real if it assumes its diversity. In this sense, the long experience of African cultural pluralism is an essential asset to facilitate coexistence and mutual enrichment based on the multiple memories and dynamics that converge in globalization.

The first Congress of African Studies was held in Madrid in 1991 with the aim of stimulating research, teaching and knowledge transfer relations about African societies between Portuguese and Spanish centres and teams, as well as with their partners in Africa, a goal that is still valid today. In 2004, Barcelona was also home to the Congress, which alternates every two years between universities in Spain and Portugal.