The African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific (AFSAAP) 45^th Annual Conference

Bringing African Studies to the Forefront of Teaching, Research, Practice, and Policy.

Hosted by Australian Catholic University, Canberra Campus, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th November 2026.

 

 

AFSAAP Membership, Conference Registration, and Dinner

We warmly invite you to join us for the AFSAAP conference: an opportunity to exchange ideas, share research, build connections and celebrate the richness and diversity of African Studies across Australasia and the Pacific.

Membership

If you are not already a member of AFSAAP, we encourage you to join before you register for the conference, and thus to secure a significant discount on the cost of membership and conference fee combined. Join here: https://afsaap.org.au/membership-plan/

Membership is an opportunity to support and participate in a vibrant community committed to furthering African Studies in Australasia and the Pacific. It provides benefits that extend beyond the conference itself, including:

• An annual subscription to the Australasian Review of African Studies (ARAS), providing free online access to cutting edge scholarship and research.
• Invitations to AFSAAP conferences and symposia.
• A public member profile on the AFSAAP website, offering visibility and opportunities for professional and media engagement.
• Subscription to Habari kwa Ufupi, our newsletter featuring news of events, publications and developments of interest to the African Studies community.
• Opportunities to participate in the Association’s Annual General Meeting and, where eligible, contribute to its executive leadership.

Conference registration

All registration fees are in Australian dollars (AUD).

	Participation fee	Participation fee with member discount applied	Cost of membership
Full conference	$290	$220	$100
Day pass	$110	$85
Online access	$45	$30
Student/unwaged
Full conference	$220	$160	$50
Day pass	$85	$65
Online access	$45	$30

Online participation

Those presenting or attending online will be sent links for each panel session. The conference dinner speeches will not be available online.

Conference Dinner Thursday 26^th November – $70 per person

Tea coffee and lunches through the conference and provided as part of the fee. Thursday nights’ conference dinner, featuring drinks, a delicious African feast, entertainment and speeches, is an optional additional event and is not included in the registration fees.

How to register and pay

Please transfer your membership or conference registration payment, according to the appropriate categories as above, via PayPal to: treasurer@afsaap.org.au. Please refer to the accompanying PayPal instructions https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/how-do-i-send-money-help293 for details on how to complete your payment. If you are joining us for the Conference Dinner, please include the additional $70 dinner payment. In the ‘notes’ section, please include:

• your title and name as you would like it to appear on your conference listing
• your membership category (full or student/unwaged)
• your email address
• and details of what you are paying for.

PROGRAMME

	DAY ONE – THURSDAY 26th NOVEMBER
0900-1000	Welcome and Registration
1000-1100	Keynote 1: African Studies and Decolonial Scholarship in Australia Today Dr Rugare Mugumbate
1110-1210	Keynote 2: Teaching Sensuous Knowledge as Decolonial Pedagogy in African Comparative Literatures Prof Rémi Armand Tchokothe
1300-1415	Panel 1: Africanist Views in the Sciences and in Medicine Maxwell Fobi Kontor, Sara Wolde, Yohannes  Assefa, Brendah Nyagah
1430-1545	Panel 2: Decolonising Contemporary Politics on the Continent Kurt Montana Borg, Dr Alastair Fraser, Dr Leila Ben Mcharek, Yiyang Chen
1600-1700	Panel 3: Governing African Infrastructure and Development Thomas Sheku Marah, Anguissa Bekono Jean Chepelin Boris, Felix Orole
1700-1800	Workshop 1: The Cherry Gertzel Bursary Award Sara Wolde, Leighann Spencer, Sophia Bongole, and Prof Peter Limb
1900-2130	Dinner: The past and future of organising around African Studies in Australasia and the Pacific Dr Valentine Mukuria, Honorary Prof Matthew Neuhaus, Prof Helen Ware
	DAY TWO – FRIDAY 27th NOVEMBER
0930-1030	DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF AMBASSADORS Policy in Practice: Harnessing Diplomatic, Academic and Community Partnerships to Advance African Perspectives in Australasia and the Pacific Her Excellency Mrs Sarojini Seeneevassen, High Commissioner for Mauritius Her Excellency Ms Doris Adzo Denyo Brese, High Commissioner for Ghana Her Excellency Mrs Wassane Zailachi, Ambassador of Morocco
	Drinks Reception
1130-1200	Keynote 3: African Impact in Australia Report on the Australian Research Council (ARC) funded study examining the political, economic, social, and civic agency of the African diaspora in Australia
1200-1300	Panel 4: Sustaining, Celebrating and Defending Africans in Australia Sam Sakama, Mercy Sang, Fungai Mutsiwa
1345-1445	Panel 5: Intellectual Traditions and Cultural Practices Prof Tendayi Sithole, Prof Jonathan Roberts, Nicholas Gadimoh, Nnedimma Okoli
1445-1615	Australian Review of African Studies Indaba/Workshop: Prof Geoffrey Hawker, Dr Rugare Mugumbate and Leighann Spencer
1615-1715	Conference Closing Announcements and AFSAAP AGM

 

 

Accommodation:

The conference will take place at the Australian Catholic University (ACU), Canberra Campus (Signadou), 127 Phillip Avenue, Watson, ACT 2602. Signage from reception at the venue will direct delegates to the conference meeting room.

A map of the local area is here: https://www.acu.edu.au/locations/canberra/canberra-campus-map

Delegates are responsible for arranging and booking their own accommodation for the conference which, given an early start on the first morning, probably includes the nights of Wednesday 25 November and Thursday 26 November. The conference organisers are unable to provide accommodation or make bookings on delegates’ behalf.

The Australian Catholic University Canberra Campus (Signadou) is located in a suburb called Watson, approximately 5 km north of Canberra’s city centre. There are a number of accommodation options within reasonable travelling distance of the campus, at a range of price points.

1. Dickson is one of the simplest local options for a suburb to stay in. It has restaurants, cafés and shops, and is close to the Watson campus.
2. Delegates staying in Civic or Braddon should check transport arrangements below. The light rail runs along Northbourne Avenue, with connections to Dickson.

Some suggestions are listed below

Budget accommodation

• Ibis Budget Canberra (Watson): A relatively inexpensive hotel option, located in Watson and convenient for the campus. Website.
• The Village Canberra: A hostel in the city centre, offering dormitory and private-room accommodation. Website.

Mid-range accommodation

• Pavilion on Northbourne (Dickson): A hotel offering standard rooms and apartments, with a restaurant and parking. Dickson is a convenient location for the campus. Website.
• Quality Hotel Dickson: A hotel in the Dickson shopping and restaurant precinct, with convenient access to the campus. Website.
• Canberra Rex Hotel (Braddon): A comfortable hotel with a range of facilities, situated between the city centre and the campus. Website.

Higher-end accommodation

• Deco Hotel Canberra (Braddon): A contemporary hotel with a range of room and apartment options. Website.
• Avenue Hotel Canberra (Braddon): A more upscale hotel offering hotel rooms, suites and apartments. Website.

These are suggestions only, rather than recommendations or endorsements by the conference organisers. Prices and availability will vary, so delegates should check directly with accommodation providers or booking websites. We encourage everyone to book as soon as possible.

For further information about accommodation across Canberra, the VisitCanberra accommodation website provides a useful overview of local options.

Getting to the conference venue

The campus is approximately 5 km north of Canberra’s city centre (Civic). It is accessible by bus and car, and is a short taxi or rideshare journey from most central Canberra locations.

Arriving by air – Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport is approximately 14 km from the campus.

• Taxi or rideshare: The simplest option, particularly if travelling with luggage. Allow approximately 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic. Taxis are available from the rank outside the terminal, and rideshare pick-up is also available.
• Public transport: Take the Rapid 3 bus from the airport to Canberra City Interchange. From there, take bus route 50 towards Watson, which travels via Dickson. Alternatively, use the light rail to Dickson and change to a bus towards Watson.

Travelling from Canberra city centre (Civic)

• Bus: Route 50 runs between City Interchange and Watson, via the Dickson shopping precinct. Route 9 also serves Watson, connecting with Dickson Interchange. Check the Transport Canberra journey planner for the most convenient stop and service.
• Taxi or rideshare: Allow approximately 10–15 minutes from Civic, depending on traffic.
• Light rail: The light rail runs between the city centre and Gungahlin, with a stop at Dickson. From Dickson, connect to a bus service towards Watson.

Travelling from Dickson

Dickson is one of the most convenient locations for delegates staying outside the city centre. Buses connect Dickson with Watson and the ACU campus. A taxi or rideshare journey is also relatively short.

Arriving by train

Canberra’s railway station is located in Kingston, south-east of the city centre. From the station, take bus route R2 towards City Interchange, then connect with route 50 towards Watson, or take a taxi/rideshare directly to the campus.

Travelling by car

The campus is at 127 Phillip Avenue, Watson, ACT 2602.

Free parking is available on and around the ACU Canberra Campus, although spaces are not guaranteed. Please observe all parking signs and restrictions, particularly those relating to church, staff and reserved parking areas. A campus map showing parking locations is available here. For further information, see ACU’s Canberra parking information

Public transport tickets and information

Canberra’s bus and light rail network uses the MyWay+ ticketing system. Passengers can pay using a contactless Visa or Mastercard (including a card on a phone or smartwatch), or a MyWay+ travel card.

ACTION offers bus services (2 and 39) from Dickson to the campus.

Qcity Transit offers services to Civic from Queanbeyan.

The R9 runs every 15 minutes from Belconnen through to the Dickson interchange. It then runs down Antill Street and onto Phillip Avenue, dropping off at the bus stop on Phillip Avenue, directly opposite the university on the other side of the road.

Return service to Dickson interchange departs from the university side of Phillip Avenue, about 100 metres down the road, in front of the Holy Rosary Primary School oval. This service links with light rail to Gungahlin and the City, via bus stops 1 and 2 at the Dickson interchange.

Plan your trip with Transport Canberra.

Please allow sufficient time for your journey, particularly during weekday peak periods.

We look forward to welcoming you to Canberra!

[1] Lyons, T., & Dimock, E. (2007, p.331). The state of African studies in Australia. In The study of Africa volume 2, global and transnational engagements, (Vol. 2, pp. 315-335). Codesria Book Series.

[2] Ibid.

[3] African Studies Association of Africa (2024). Bokutani: The Journal of the African Studies Association of Africa – Call for Papers: “Ecologies of Knowledge in Global Africa”. Retrieved from https://as-aa.org/bokutani-the-journal-of-the-african-studies-association-of-africa-call-for-papers-ecologies-of-knowledge-in-global-africa/

[4] Ibid. Also see: AFSAAP (2025). Ùhúnmwèlaò, the Great Head of Ọ́bà: From the Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin to the Australasia and Pacific. Retrieved from https://afsaap.org.au/uhunmwelao-the-great-head-of-oba-from-the-edo-people-of-the-kingdom-of-benin-to-the-australasia-and-pacific/