ASAUK 2026: Narrative, Power and the Making of African Worlds
Narratives, whether official, insurgent, embodied, archival, legal, or speculative, are fundamental to the shaping of knowledge, identity, and power across the African continent and its diasporas. This conference invites participants to reflect on how stories are made, who gets to tell them, and what they do in the world. In African studies, narrative is never merely literary: it structures policy, development agendas, transitional justice mechanisms, data infrastructures, activist movements, ecological imaginaries, and more. We propose “narrative” not only as a mode of storytelling but as a contested field of meaning-making, where competing visions of African pasts, presents, and futures take shape. The ASAUK Conference will be held from 10th to 12th September 2026 at Durham University.
Conference Registration
The 2026 conference of the African Studies Association of the United Kingdom will be held at the Teaching and Learning Centre, Durham University, 10-12 September 2026.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM
Registration includes morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch each day.
Venue: Teaching and Learning Centre, South Road, Durham DH1 3LS
Registration rates
- Africa-based ASAUK member £70
- Africa-based non-ASAUK member £100
- Student ASAUK member (rest of world, including UK) £150
- Student non-ASAUK member (rest of world, including UK) £190
- ASAUK member £260
- Non-ASAUK member £320
- Day rate £120
- Online speaker registration £100
Membership is not a requirement for participation, but members receive a conference discount. ASAUK membership can be taken out or renewed via the
ASAUK membership page prior to registration.
Optional Extras
Conference Dinner, Saturday 12 September, St Mary’s College — limited tickets available £45
Servery dinner, (Thursday and/or Friday evening) £18.25 per evening.
All dinners will be taking place at St Mary’s College, Elvet Hill Road, Durham DH1 3LR.
Excursions – Wednesday 9 September, Tour of Durham Cathedral – 1:30pm start £6.50 per person.
Sunday 13th September, Tour of the City of Durham – 09:30 start and end 13:30 at Durham Cathedral £15.00
Sunday 13th September, Excursion to Hadrian’s Wall – Collection point TBC at 09:00. The trip will include a visit to Vindolanda and Housesteads Roman Fort. It is planned to arrive back to Durham for 17:00. £50.00
Accommodation
Conference accommodation is available at John Snow College, The Approach, Mount Oswald, Durham DH1 3FR, at £85 per night, including breakfast.
Please find alternative hotel accommodation within the City of Durham:
Online participation
The ASAUK conference is not organised as a hybrid event. However, speakers may register to join a panel virtually, provided the panel organiser is able to arrange this. We cannot guarantee that virtual participants will have access to other panels. All speakers, including those presenting online, must register for the conference in order to appear in the programme.
Please note, registration for the conference will close at 23:59 BST on Tuesday 25th August 2026.
Refunds after the registration deadline may not be possible.