Enriching Afro-Iberian Cultural Heritage. Current trends on culture, religion and language

The starting point for this conference is the need to make visible the strategies used by cultural, religious and linguistic African minorities to express themselves in current Iberian societies. We propose to compare two case studies, historically and geographically related, Portugal and Spain, encouraging an Iberian studies perspective. Our central focus is the African continent, particularly taking into account the African-Iberian connections both in colonial and postcolonial times. AfroIberian Cultural Heritage strongly emerges as a pillar enabling the projection of shared values by means of raising awareness on the common memories that can be meaningful for both Africans and Europeans, putting in circulation new Afro-Iberian identifications. On the one hand, Music, Films, Dance and Literature are solid pieces of tangible Cultural Heritage given that all together are able to perform feelings and emotions of African minorities in the Iberian Peninsula. But how culture, religious and linguistic minorities are currently represented by this tangible Cultural Heritage? Is Iberian Cultural Heritage enriching Iberian diversities with these cultural productions favouring more cultural, religious and linguistic recognition? On another hand, African minorities’ intangible Cultural Heritage needs to be reinforced: it seems that little work has been done. This topic can make visible African minorities’ memories and experiences in Iberian contexts, some of which are appearing in blogs and social networks (Instagram, Facebook, etc.).

This call for papers addresses researches which main aim is to reflect on the way minorities from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are (or have been) enriching Iberian Cultural Heritage. The organizers encourage works on how African cultures, religions and languages are represented, discussed, mixed and reinforced. The conference addresses scholars from a wide variety of fields: Anthropology, Philology, Cultural Studies, History and Sociology. Applicants are requested to send an abstract of 300-400 words in English, and a short bio of 100 words to hispanicafricanmemories@gmail.com, no later than October 4th, 2019.

The language of the conference will be English, and all submissions and presentations must be in English. There will be no translation available. Selected papers will be communicated by October 10th, 2019. The final programme will be announced on October 14th, 2019. All participants must cover their own travel costs and living expenses. Direction: Yolanda Aixelà Cabré (IMF-CSIC, Barcelona), Max Doppelbauer (Universität Wien, Wien), Araceli González Vázquez (IMF-CSIC, Barcelona)