Conference “AFRICA AS CONTEXT, AFRICA AS METHOD”

International ACHIEVE IT Conference at our consortium partner UNIMORE

AFRICA AS CONTEXT, AFRICA AS METHOD

21 May 2026 – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), Modena, Largo S. Eufemia, 19 – Room B.04
Department of Studies on Language and Culture

The University of Parma, through the University Centre for International Cooperation (CUCI) and within the framework of the “ACHIEVE IT” project, promotes and takes part in the international conference “Africa as Context, Africa as Method”, to be held on 21 May 2026 at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE).

The initiative represents one of the key milestones of the ACHIEVE IT project, coordinated for UNIPR by Prof. Nadia Monacelli, and is part of a broader framework of international academic collaboration aimed at strengthening partnerships between Italian and African universities, fostering innovative approaches to research and higher education.

The conference is supported by NextGenerationEU and by the main academic partner institutions of the consortium. The event will bring together internationally renowned scholars to reflect on the role of Africa as an epistemological and methodological context in the production of knowledge in the social sciences and humanities, with particular attention to historical, political, and cultural processes shaping contemporary African societies and their global relations.

Programme of the Day
Morning Session – Chair: Selenia Marabello

The day will open at 9:00 with institutional greetings by Donatella Malavasi (UNIMORE, International Relations DSLC), Paolo Pavan (UNIMORE, Vice Rector for International Relations), Nadia Monacelli (CUCI – University of Parma, ACHIEVE IT Project Leader), and Alessandro Capra (UNIMORE, ACHIEVE IT).

At 10:00, the keynote lecture by Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo (University of Ghana) will be held: “An African agenda in today’s academy: making it make sense”, followed by discussion.

The session will continue with presentations by Karin Pallaver (University of Bologna), “East African societies, colonialism, and the materiality of money”, and Francesca Declich (University of Urbino), “The forgotten queens of Northern Mozambique”, followed by plenary discussion.

Afternoon Session – Chair: Alessandra Gribaldo

At 14:45, the keynote lecture by Prof. Jean François Bayart (Geneva Graduate Institute) will take place: “L’Afrique dans la sociologie historique et comparée du politique”, followed by discussion.

Subsequent talks will be given by Corrado Tornimbeni (University of Bologna), “At the origin of ‘sovereigntism’. Democracy, development and citizenship in Sub-Saharan Africa”, and Armando Cutolo (University of Siena), “«Au-delà de l’histoire». Reflections on Ivorian sovereigntism”.

The day will conclude with a round table on Italian Ethnological Programmes in Africa, chaired by Valentina Fusari (University of Turin), with contributions by Pino Schirripa (University of Messina), Francesca Declich (University of Urbino), and Cecilia Pennacini (University of Torino).

Free entry until seating capacity is reached.

Full programme available at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F41jZq8lH_qYvDDm_S1KqrOpFrQ0LhwZ/view?usp=drive_link

Conference “AFRICA AS CONTEXT, AFRICA AS METHOD”

International ACHIEVE IT Conference at our consortium partner UNIMORE

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