Religious practices, institutions and cosmologies never stand in isolation from other spheres of society but are continuously being co-constituted in relation to them as well as in relation to other religious formations. With a focus on Africa, this workshop brings together interdisciplinary approaches in the study of religion, including history, sociology, anthropology, political studies, literature and theology. Research foci include global entanglements of Islam(s), Christianity(ies), indigenous/traditional and other religions; processes of religio-secularization (Dressler); socio-cultural dynamics impacted by discourses of “African spirituality” in broader decolonial and planetary debates; and expressions of African spirituality and religion in literature, popular media and the like. While methodologies and timeframes may range widely in the case studies, we look forward to presentations that foreground relational and entangled dynamics based on current research.
The workshop has an open format with possibilities for presentations, contributions on work-in-progress, roundtables, posters and the like. We particularly encourage contributions that foster cross-disciplinary conversations and have the potential to open future initiatives for cooperation.
The public part of the workshop is followed by a meeting of the AK Africa of the German Association for the study Religion (DVRW). Those interested in joining the working group are welcome to join in.
We look forward to lively discussions and constructive ideas!
Katharina Wilkens, Institute for the Study of Religions and AK Religions in Africa
Theresa Mayer, Center for Religion, Culture and Society (CRCS)
Jacky Kosgei, African Literary and Cultural Studies
