Theme: The State of African Studies in the 21st Century: The Lagos Studies Association @ 10
Format: Hybrid (Lagos + Zoom)
Dates: June 16–20, 2026
Abstract deadline: December 1, 2025
Names are among the most enduring acts of identity, memory, and power. Across Africa, the names of people, places, and institutions carry the imprint of history, spirituality, and politics. This panel examines the politics of naming and renaming as crucial sites where memory is negotiated, authority is asserted, and identities are reshaped.
From colonial toponymic impositions to postcolonial and contemporary struggles over renaming, names encode competing claims to legitimacy and belonging. Street, monument, and institutional renamings today intersect with debates about decolonization, nationalism, religion, and cultural pride. We invite contributors from linguistics, history, anthropology, literature, political science, geography, heritage studies, and related fields.
Guiding questions
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How do African societies negotiate the symbolic power of names in public and private life?
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In what ways does renaming rewrite historical narratives or reclaim suppressed identities?
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How do names reflect intersections of language, politics, and spirituality?
Suggested topics (include but not limited to)
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Colonial & postcolonial toponymies: place-names as power relations and historical memory
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Renaming as decolonial practice: meaning and stakes in nationalist and cultural reclamation projects
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Personal & family names: identity, spirituality, and resistance to erasure
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Memory, heritage, and erasure: how names preserve or obscure Indigenous histories
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Institutional & monumental renamings: implications for schools, streets, and landmarks
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Language, politics, authority: linguistic choices and competing claims to legitimacy
Submission guidelines
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Abstract: up to 250 words
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Include: paper title; author’s full name; institutional affiliation; short bio (80–120 words)
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Indicate: preferred participation mode (in-person Lagos or Zoom)
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Email submissions to: amooabdussalam@fuwukari.edu.ng
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Panel organiser: Abdussalam Olawale Amoo, Federal University, Wukari, Nigeria
Participation & format
This is a hybrid panel. We welcome proposals from scholars, practitioners, and early-career researchers based in Africa and worldwide. Presentations may be in English (or with English slides/handout where another language is used).
Join in Lagos - or online - to explore how the power of names shapes African identities, memories, and futures.
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