European Conference on African Studies 2023 - African Futures

The ECAS9 2023 Conference, held from May 31 to June 3, 2023, at the University of Cologne, gathered 1900 delegates from 80 countries. The theme "African Futures" explored Africa's evolving role in global interactions, characterized by its dynamic and flexible nature, in contrast to Western self-provincialism. The conference examined optimistic narratives like "Africa Rising" alongside concerns about a new scramble for Africa, highlighting the continent's role as an experimental space for future global scenarios.

Prof. Stéphanie Perazzon and Prof. Didier Péclard, convened a key panel focused on “Localizing the State: Interrogating State Formation in and from Secondary Cities in Africa.” This discussion addressed how public authority is negotiated in secondary cities, which are gaining attention as they face challenges such as land disputes and infrastructural deficiencies. The panel aimed to provide nuanced insights into state authority dynamics and engage critically with the concept of ‘secondary cities.’

Prof. Karen Büscher from…