Epistemic Insurrections of Contemporary Afrodiasporic Thought

With the call for the III International Colloquium of the Afro-American Studies Program, Casa de las Americas joins the processes of systematization and valorization of the epistemologies forged in the Afro-descendant ideopolitical field, in the year we commemorate the centenary of the births of Patricio Lumumba, Frantz Fanon and Malcolm X. The central theme, Epistemic Insurrections of Contemporary Afrodiasporic Thought, invites to an emancipatory dialogue among academics, researchers, teachers, communicators, artists and activists.

Contemporary debates on the past of African and Afro-descendant peoples, their interpretation and legacies have illuminated a wide spectrum of rebellions and insubordinations against colonial and neocolonial oppression in the Americas. Increasingly broad and persistent exercises of inquiry and research are beginning to unveil the epistemic insurrections that decoded the mechanisms of domination of capitalism, from its birth –based on human trafficking and enslavement– to the present day.

In the post-war scenario of the 20th century, Afro-American social thought matured, characterized by a theoretical electivism that “calibanizes” and creatively appropriates perspectives and concepts constructed by socialist currents, feminisms, structuralism, surrealism and the political practices of nationalism and popular republicanism.

The academic program of the III Colloquium proposes the following thematic axes:

• Maroon epistemologies: cultural and political insurgencies in Afro-America.
• Festivals, congresses and meetings of black writers and artists. Their contributions to trans-Africanity.
• The decolonizing work of Afro-descendant publications and intellectual networks.
• Women at the center of history. Black feminisms, yesterday and today.
• Towards a new Pan-Africanism? A review of 20th century experiences.
• Frantz Fanon (1925-1961); Patrick Lumumba (1925-1961); and Malcolm X (1925-1965): legacies and lessons learned.

MODALITIES OF PARTICIPATION

The III Colloquium will have a hybrid format (virtual and on-site).

In order to guarantee compliance with the program and to anticipate unexpected contingencies, proposals for virtual presentations will require prior filming and submission to the Coordinating Committee two weeks before the event.

The structure of the academic program will present the following modalities:

• Individual papers
• Panels
• Audiovisual materials
• Presentation of books or editorial collections

Those interested in participating may send their proposals in Spanish or English to the emails afroamerica@casa.cult.cu and afroamerica.cuba@gmail.com till April 1st, 2025. To do so, they must download and fill out the registration form found in the following link and attach it to their application email.

The Academic Committee of the III Colloquium will respond before May 3, 2025 and will send the invitation letters to each of the approved applicants so that they can manage the funds necessary to participate in the colloquium.  Once the event has concluded, the corresponding certificates of participation will be issued.

PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

The program will reserve twenty (20) places for virtual format and fifty (50) for on-site format. Each presentation, regardless of its format, will have a maximum time of twenty (20) minutes. The proposed titles or editorial collections should correspond, in terms of dates, to the period 2023-2025.

REGISTRATION FEE

For Cuban participants, the admission fee will be 500.00 MN for professionals and 250.00 MN for students. It will be paid in cash and in person at the time of official accreditation at the colloquium.

For foreign participants, the admission fee will consist of 50.00 USD or Euros and can only be paid one week before the conference, by means of the payment instructions that will be communicated in due course.

All information provided by Zuleica Romay Guerra. More information here.