The Congo Research Network (CRN) is organizing its sixth international conference themed, “Congolese Horizons: Weaving Temporalities in Congo Studies,” to be held at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), Sharjah, UAE, between Wednesday, January 29 – Friday, January 31, 2025 (location map).

This event brings together junior and senior scholars across the humanities and social sciences, sharing a common interest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It specifically aims to provide space for productive interdisciplinary discussions, within and beyond Congo Studies.

This scholarly conference invites participants to explore the diverse intersections of temporalities with the social, cultural, and political fabric of the Congo, encompassing perspectives from both the humanities and social sciences. Through this lens, we aim to illuminate the complexities of temporal experiences, including the interplay of various timelines, historical narratives, and societal rhythms. By examining tensions, ruptures, and continuities, we seek to deepen our understanding of how individuals and communities navigate the temporal landscape, shedding light on the multifaceted dynamics shaping their lived realities.

The issue of temporality holds critical significance in today’s context. Understanding how time is perceived, managed, and interpreted across various facets of human life is pivotal for grasping contemporary challenges. In a world characterized by an acceleration of technological, economic, and sociocultural changes, the question of temporality is becoming increasingly relevant.

The conference will also comprise a keynote lecture (theme and speaker to be announced soon) as well as a roundtable on “Decolonizing Congo Studies” (participants to be announced).

In line with our theme, we would be particularly interested in paper and panel proposals that may address the following axes:

• Historical memory and narratives of the past – legacies and contestations: How are the past and history discussed, debated, interpreted, and contested in today’s Congo? What are the dynamics of collective memory? How is historical memory impacting everyday life, as well as the experiences of work, family, and community?
• Imagined futures – aspirations, projections, and anticipations: What are the Congolese  visions and aspirations for the future? How are collective imaginaries and social utopias shaping the temporal horizons of individuals and communities? How are politicians and community leaders relating to time in their public discourse? And what are the legacies of colonialism on forms of agency, resistance, political contestation and repression?
• Time beyond the human – ecological entanglements: What are the relations between human temporalities and ecosystems? How are more-than-human life cycles, cosmogonies, invisible forces, and religious institutions shaping past and present societies and cultures?
• The time of (re)invention – technology and innovation: How are narratives of progress, decay, and stagnation coexisting in today’s Congo? What is the relation to global economic developments, postcolonial experiences of extraction, and economic marginality? How have Congolese international migrations and practices of translocality resulted in new patterns of movements and forms of exchanges in recent decades?

The conference is open to the public. Free admission. Pre-register to attend.

Conference Resources for Speakers:

• Click here for accommodation and visa resources.
• The Africa Institute, Global Studies University has developed a guidebook to the Emirate of Sharjah to assist newcomers and visitors in getting to know Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates better. Click here to download your copy.