How we sense and feel | A Gathering to Reimagine Creative Solidarity.

VIAD Research Centre, University of Johannesburg in partnership with the Simmons Centre, Brown University and the Africa Institute, Global Studies University invites you to “How we sense and feel |A Gathering to Reimagine Creative Solidarity.” We invite makers, artists and art-researchers to consider how they are actively reconstituting the aesthetic in the present time of war. In coming together with artists from the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestine, Lebanon, South Africa, Haiti, Ethiopia and the United States of America, the Imagined New Volume III (or, what happens when History is a Catastrophe?), puts forward the following questions:  What (new) aesthetic knowledges are artists fighting for in the face of catastrophic violence? How are artists remaking worlds from material violence without reproducing this violence? How do artists tell stories of war, grief and hope beyond their identity? And what is the present relationship between art and the political?  Sensing the world is how we make sense of our experiences and the feelings which emerge therein. During war and heightened violent conflict, our perceptual terrain is disrupted; as our very lived world faces an unmaking. Worse still, is that the regime of war attempts to deconstruct what is sensible or reasonable by attacking perception through the senses as well as the social.  Who we are is pulled apart during war, and that relational being is forced to ask who belongs and who does not belong when some are cast as enemies. In that space, what can be done to whom and why is measured by feelings of fear, love, hatred, grief, even hope but it is distorted from any ordinary ways of knowing what it means to live a life. Within this social sphere which knows the world through skewed perceptual frames, some are forced to experience worlds without place while others lay claim to the whole world in its entirety. With the aesthetic realm implicated in all sides of the regime of contemporary warfare, this gathering of artists – who think about conflict through their hands, bodies, natural and built environments – offers a moment for collectively reimagining what creative solidarity can look like today. In Johannesburg, South Africa, at the Pan-Africanist space of The Forge, this assembly acts as an invitation to think collectively through practice. How we make worlds and create new forms of solidarity is what this gathering hopes to imagine anew. How we sense and feel is at stake. Join us to think through (new) creative ways of knowing the world while facing war. This roundtable conversation features artists; Berhanu Ashagrie Deribew, Tibian Bahari, Mark Gibson, Renold Laurent, Patrick Bongoy, Teresa Kutala Firmino, Mai Shaer, Milia Khoury and Shereen Abed. Venue: The Forge, at 87 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg Date: Sunday, 23 August 2026 Time: 17:30–20:00 Please note that while the Forge has ramp access at the entrance, the bathroom does not have ramps. Food served by Bitten Studio Poster image by Teresa Kutala Firmino

RSVP

2027-2028 Postdoctoral Fellowships at Princeton University--Call for Applications

  The Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) at Princeton University is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2027-28 Postdoctoral Fellows Program supporting social science research on international issues. We would appreciate it if you could share this announcement with colleagues and encourage promising candidates to apply.

As a leading global institution, PIIRS is dedicated to advancing innovative scholarship that seeks to understand and address the world's most pressing challenges, and the postdoctoral program is integral to that mission. We invite applications for the 2027-28 cohort. Up to four fellowships will be awarded to recent PhDs in the social sciences who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, congruent with the Institute's intellectual focus, that simultaneously advances theoretical debates in their disciplinary field; creatively speaks to and engages with a multidisciplinary audience; and deepens substantive knowledge of different regions around the world. 

The program will bring together an exceptional group of scholars whose work combines significant knowledge of a given region/place, usually through sustained fieldwork; disciplinary expertise, including theory and methods that advance disciplinary knowledge; and a multidisciplinary curiosity that enhances their research. Leveraging Princeton's scholarly resources, fellows will focus on research, expand their intellectual horizons, and prepare work for publication. They will have biweekly meetings with the faculty director to share their work, and monthly meetings with faculty fellows from various social sciences to present their work and learn from others. Fellows are also encouraged to engage with colleagues and attend departmental seminars. 

Appointments are anticipated for two years, with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding. Fellows will hold the rank of postdoctoral research associate and, in addition to a competitive salary and benefits, the program will provide fellows with the opportunity to host a small, pre-publication, book workshop; and a research fund of $4,000 per year. The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University. 

Applicants must demonstrate outstanding scholarly achievement and promise. To be eligible, applicants generally cannot have more than two years of postdoctoral experience prior to the start of the appointment, at the beginning of the academic year on September 1, 2027. PhDs must be granted from a university other than Princeton.

Applicants must apply online at: https://apply.interfolio.com/189215

Applications are due by September 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST). The following application items should be uploaded by the applicant in English:

·        Cover letter

·        Curriculum vitae

·        Transcripts

·        Research Proposal indicating plans for two-year postdoc (maximum 5 pages double-spaced)

·        Dissertation abstract (including Table of Contents)

·        Writing sample: one chapter of the dissertation or one published article related to dissertation topic.

·       Document confirming either that you have completed all requirements for the PhD degree or a letter signed by your dissertation advisor indicating that you will complete the PhD by the start date of the fellowship

·       The names and email addresses of three referees, who will be contacted automatically by the online application system with an invitation to upload their letter of recommendation to the system by the application deadline. (**Please note: all letters of reference should be submitted by your referees before the September 15, 2026 deadline. **)   

Further information can be found at https://piirs.princeton.edu/funding-fellowships/piirs-postdoctoral-fellows. 

Questions about the program or application process may be directed to the Program Coordinator, Nicole Bergman at piirspdocs@princeton.edu. 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic, and Princeton does not provide special benefits or preferential treatment on the basis of a protected characteristic. 

Arts Council of African Studies Association (ACASA) call for Webinar proposals

 The Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA) invites proposals from ACASA members for its upcoming (Spring / Fall) webinar series. This initiative aims to foster timely, engaging, and innovative conversations in the field of African art history and related disciplines.

We welcome proposals that address emerging topics, revisit critical questions, or bring new perspectives to ongoing scholarly, curatorial, and artistic conversations. Webinars may take the form of panels, roundtables, interviews, or other creative formats. Faculty members may also sponsor graduate student panels through their ACASA membership and serve as mentors throughout the proposal and presentation process.

Proposal Guidelines

Applicants are invited to submit the following materials:

• A brief proposal (500 words) outlining the theme, central questions, and relevance of the webinar
• A proposed title
• A list of (no more than 4) participants (including organizers, speakers, moderators, or respondents) with brief bios
• A description of the format (e.g., panel, roundtable, conversation)
• Preferred timing within the season (if applicable)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to current conversations in the field
• Clarity and strength of the central theme
• Feasibility of the proposed format
• Submitter must be an active ACASA Member (panelists are encoraged to join ACASA, but it is not required) 

What ACASA Provides

Selected proposals will receive:

• Logistical and technical support for hosting the webinar
• Promotion through ACASA’s communication channels
• An honorarium for the organizer and each participant (no more than 4 recipients total)

Timeline

• Proposal Deadline: September 1st, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: September 15th, 2026
• Webinar Window: October 15th - December 15th, 2026

Selected applications will also be required to submit project updates to ACASA at key stages leading up to the webinar to ensure continued engagement, accountability, and the overall quality of the program. 

Submission Instructions

Please submit proposals, no later than September 1, as a single PDF to bastian@acasaonline.org with the subject line: ACASA Webinar Proposal – Fall 2026. 

 

For any questions or issues, please email Caroline Bastian at bastian@acasaonline.org

Conversation with Yinka Shonibare CBE at the 2018 Art X Lagos

MOWAA Drum Fellowship 2026-27

 

MOWAA DRUM Fellowship  We are delighted to announce the launch of MOWAA’s inaugural DRUM Fellowship, a new interdisciplinary programme exploring the histories, legacies and contemporary resonances of DRUM through archival research, creative practice and public engagement.  Developed as an extension of MOWAA's Social History Archives practice, the fellowship reflects our commitment to expanding access to archives and collections as sites of inquiry, cultural memory and creative production. It foregrounds the archive not as a static repository, but as a living space for reinterpreting Africa's social and visual histories and generating new forms of knowledge. The fellowship is made possible through MOWAA's collaboration with Bailey’s African History Archive(BAHA)and the generous support of the Ford Foundation. Running from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, fellows will engage directly with archival materials through a programme of research, mentorship and public engagement, developing projects that critically examine DRUM's enduring influence on media, identity, politics and culture across Africa and its diasporas. Learn more about the DRUM Fellowship and apply here. Applications close at 12:00 AM on 16 August 2026.   Application Guidelines

Instagram > Contact Us > Media Inquiries & press information > General inquiries > Unsubscribe > Museum of West African Art 1 Benin Sapele Rd, Benin, Nigeria

 

Webinar: Topic: Africa’s Innovation Paradox: From Strategy to Systems (July 28, 2026)

Description: The Africa Innovation Council, in partnership with Princeton University’s Africa World Initiative (AWI), launches its flagship webinar series with a timely discussion on one of the continent’s most consequential questions: Why has Africa, despite decades of innovation policies, scientific advancement, and entrepreneurial growth, not yet transformed knowledge into industry at scale?

Speakers
H.E. Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni
Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Kingdom of Morocco 

H.E. Prof. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni is Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform and an internationally recognized expert in artificial intelligence. A former Distinguished Professor at Sorbonne University and former Executive President of Morocco’s International Center for Artificial Intelligence (AI Movement), she is a leading authority in distributed AI and multi-agent systems. Prof. El Fallah Seghrouchni has published more than 200 scientific works and has played a prominent role in advancing AI research, digital transformation, and innovation policy across Africa and globally.

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana
Chairman, Africa Digital Health Networks

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana is Chief Digital Health Advisor at Africa CDC, where he leads efforts to advance digital transformation and innovation across African health systems. Previously Rwanda's Minister of Youth and ICT, he spearheaded the Smart Africa Alliance and YouthConnekt Africa, two influential pan-African initiatives focused on digital transformation and youth empowerment. A recognized leader in technology, public policy, and digital inclusion, he has devoted his career to harnessing digital innovation to improve health outcomes and economic opportunity across the continent.

Prof. Brando Okolo
Head of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) 

Prof. Brando Okolo is Head of Science, Technology and Innovation at AUDA-NEPAD, where he oversees the implementation of continental science, technology, and innovation policies and programs. With more than two decades of experience spanning academia, research, and industry, he has worked extensively in advanced manufacturing, materials science, and industrial innovation. A leading advocate for innovation-driven development, Prof. Okolo works with governments, universities, and industry partners to strengthen Africa’s capacity for technological advancement and industrial transformation.

Prof. Chika Okeke-Agulu
Director, Africa World Initiative; Robert Schirmer Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies, Princeton University; Chair, Africa Innovation Council 

Prof. Chika Okeke-Agulu is a distinguished Nigerian art historian, curator, critic, and scholar specializing in African and African diaspora art history. He serves as Director of Princeton University’s Africa World Initiative and is the Robert Schirmer Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies. A Fellow of the British Academy and an internationally recognized intellectual leader, he has authored numerous influential books and curated major exhibitions around the world. As Chair of the Africa Innovation Council, he champions interdisciplinary collaboration connecting research, culture, innovation, entrepreneurship, and public policy across Africa and its global partners

Moderator
Sheena Raikundalia
Chief Growth Officer, Kuza One
Board Member, Kenya National Innovation Agency 

Sheena Raikundalia is a recognized leader in African innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. Formerly head of the UK–Kenya Tech Hub, she works to connect capital, policy, and markets to support entrepreneurship, technology adoption, and inclusive economic growth across Africa.

Additional Information on the Africa Innovation Council: