10th African Association for the Study of Religions Conference in Africa

Theme – “Spirituality, Gender, and Agency in African Religions”

The African Association for the Study of Religions (AASR) invites proposals for individual papers, panels, roundtables, and poster presentations for its biennial conference to be held at the University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana, from 28 to 30 July 2025

CALL FOR PAPERS
Spirituality as a concept allows for an understanding of religion beyond a narrow focus on religious beliefs and institutions. It foregrounds the lived, experiential, embodied, and sensual ways humans relate to the sacred in a quest for meaning, purpose, reverence, and interconnectedness with each other, the earth, and other species, spirits, and god/s. Spirituality as an everyday practice and orientation blurs and transcends the boundaries between religious traditions and neat categories, as it is diffuse, complex, dynamic, and fluid.

In this conference, we propose a focus on spirituality within, across, and beyond Africa’s diverse religions—most notably indigenous religions, Christianity, and Islam, as well as other minority traditions. We are particularly interested in conversations about how spirituality is connected to social, political, and economic agency, especially for marginalized groups, including women and ethnic minorities.

How does spirituality empower people in social life?
How does spirituality intersect with the performance of political power and economic development?

This conference seeks to provide a platform for interrogating how gender and other social dynamics shape spiritual practices and how spirituality influences gender and other social identities in Africa, historically and today.

Sub-Themes
Scholars, researchers, and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts on the following suggested sub-themes and any related topics related to the conference theme:

1. Theoretical and methodological issues in spirituality study
2. Spirituality, gender and agency in Africa
3. African traditional religious conceptualization of spirituality
4. African Christianities and spirituality
5. African Islams and spirituality
6. The role of women in African traditional religions
7. Gender dynamics in contemporary African spiritual practices
8. Gender roles and relations within modern African spiritual movements
9. Globalization and modernization on spirituality and gender dynamics in African
   religions
10. Comparative studies of gender roles across different African religions
11. The impact of spirituality on gender identity and expression in African societies
12. Spirituality, politics, agency in African religions
13. The role of religious rituals and practices in shaping gender expressions
14. Women, religious abuse and violence
15. Gender, agency and healing through African spiritual practices
16. Gender, spiritual sower and agency in African religions
17. Intersectionality of gender, spirituality, and socio-political contexts in Africa
18. Spirituality and empowerment
19. The relationship of spirituality, gender and economic inequalities

Panel/Round Table Proposals

• A panel in honour of Prof. Gerrie ter Haar
• Women Caucus Panel on women/Gender, spirituality, and agency
• AASR Journal Panel

Submission Guidelines
Please submit an abstract using the following link: https://forms.gle/jCbtPbGxtrynsSDR6.
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is Friday, February 7, 2025. Each proposal will
receive a response by Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Participants in the conference must be registered by Thursday, May 31, 2025.
Important information:

Interested participants should submit an abstract of 250 to 300 words using the following link: https://forms.gle/jCbtPbGxtrynsSDR6.

Each proposal should include a title that reflects the content of the abstract as well as each author’s contact details (name, position, institutional affiliation, email address, phone/WhatsApp contact)

You may submit more than one proposal. We look forward to your contributions and a rich and engaging conference.

For Inquiries and Further Information:

Contacts:

• Prof. Benson Igboin, AASR General Secretary, bensonigboin@gmail.com
• Dr. Telesia K. Musili AASR Deputy Secretary, telesia.musili@gmail.com
• Dr Tshenolo J. Madigele, madigeletj@tabalakaabub-ac-bw

GRANTS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Thanks to the generosity of some senior members of our Association, we are able to provide a limited number of conference grants to support the participation of graduate students at the conference. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be based on the African continent
• Be AASR member (or part of the award will be used to cover the membership fee)
• Be a postgraduate student (MA or PhD)
• Have an accepted Abstract for presentation at the conference
• Commit to submitting their revised conference paper to the AASR Journal

In order to receive consideration for a travel grant, check the box in the registration form that confirms your eligibility. In the space provided, please provide a rough budget, the amount requested, and a brief narrative explaining your financial needs and the academic benefit of attending the conference.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

• Regular: $200 ($220 after May 31, 2025)
• AASR members (who have paid their 2024/25 membership fee**): $150 ($170 after May 31, 2025)
• Students/Retired/Underemployed: $100 ($120 after May 31, 2025)

Membership Fees

Scholars from the Global South:

• Fully employed: $50 USD
• Students/Retirees/Underemployed: $25 USD

Scholars from the Global North:

• Fully employed: $60 USD
• Students/Retirees/Underemployed: $30 USD

Membership fees can be paid through the bank, PayPal, or Stripe. To pay membership fees,
please visit www.a-asr.org.

Conference registration includes the following: entrance to the conference, reception dinner,
tea breaks and light refreshments, daily lunches, and conference materials.

**If you have doubts about the membership fee payment, please contact the AASR Treasurer at
treasurer@a-asr.org.