Stream Conveners:
Kadija George (Independent Researcher; Fulbright Visiting Scholar 2025-2026); blackspecwritingfest@gmail.com
Polina Levontin (Imperial; BSFA; co-PI Applied African SF);
Onesmus Mwabonje (Imperial; Strathmore; co-PI Applied African SF) vector.submissions@gmail.com
The focus on this stream is on speculative fiction (sf) and sf studies. The definition of ‘speculative’ for this stream includes: science fiction, fantasy, horror, Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism, magic realism, mythology, utopian studies, alternative history, romantasy, etc. We welcome abstracts that examine the role of the speculative genre in reframing, shaping, and critiquing possible worlds. How can SF help re-ground policies, finance, and development agendas in African realities? What possibilities arise from reimagining the past? What if we get climate, justice, and the future of work right? How do the answers to these questions differ if we ask African and Afro-diasporic speculative writers and scholars to reflect on their own pasts and futures as opposed to relying on popular Western sci-fi narratives?
Within this stream, we envision several panels. One might be looking at how re-imagining the past in order to shape alternative futures has been theorized in African foresight and practiced by African and Afro-diasporic speculative writers. We would like to explore the science and art behind pastcasting, bringing together researchers and artists who insist that, to build new worlds, we need to re-imagine old ones.
We would also like to include a roundtable of writers to read from their work (poetry and prose), reflect on what it does in connection to the theme of this conference, and to enable a conversation between writers, researchers and the audience.
We welcome proposals for individual abstracts as well as panels focusing on a specific aspect of speculative worldbuilding. The panels are for 90 mins. Each panel should have a minimum of 3 presentations. If you are submitting a proposal for a panel and you do not have a chair, one will be provided for you. Some panels may be hybrid. Please indicate if you have to present online.
