Lusófona University hosts 2nd Summer School on African Studies

Lusófona University - Porto University Centre hosted the 2nd Summer School on African Studies in Portuguese between 29 June and 3 July, under the theme "Afro-descendant Identities and Africanities in Post-Colonial Democracies". The initiative brought together researchers, Master's and PhD students, as well as participants from local and international communities, creating a space for reflection, knowledge sharing and debate on the many dimensions of Afro-descendant identities and Africanities.

Drawing on questions surrounding the historical responsibility of African and Afro-descendant peoples, as well as the challenges posed by the colonial legacy for former colonial powers and contemporary societies, the programme encouraged critical reflection on a range of historical, cultural, social and political perspectives. It also sought to foster a broader understanding of the relationship between Africa and Europe by valuing the diversity of experiences, narratives and trajectories.

Throughout the week, the Summer School offered a diverse programme. The opening day, 29 June, marked the beginning of a space for reflection, exchange and debate, featuring the opening session, the conference "Disturbing History", and several discussions on colonial legacies, restitution, memory and historical responsibility. This first gathering laid the foundations for a week centred on critical thinking, interdisciplinary research and the appreciation of diverse voices and experiences.

On the second day, 30 June, discussions continued with a deeper exploration of themes related to writing, memory, art and civic responsibility. The sessions examined new perspectives on how Afro-descendant experiences are narrated, how historical legacies can be critically addressed, and how images, art and culture contribute to building a more informed and inclusive citizenship.

The third day, 1 July, focused on the relationship between Afro-descendant identities, democracy and the legacies of colonialism, addressing the challenges of civic participation, inclusion and the recognition of Afro-descendant communities in different national contexts. On the fourth day, 2 July, attention turned to the contribution of these communities to building more inclusive societies, with discussions on equal opportunities, democratic participation and tackling structural inequalities.

The closing session took place on 3 July in Braga, at Muzeu – Pensamento e Arte Contemporânea, reinforcing the dialogue between academic knowledge, literature, the arts and student participation. The programme began with the session "Attentive Listening", led by Nazir Can and Matheus Serva Pereira, highlighting the importance of listening and dialogue in the construction of knowledge. This was followed by a conversation with writer Ângelo Delgado, the presentation of the thematic issue Arts and Culture of Resistance in Portuguese-Speaking Africa: 50 Years of Independence, and concluded with the recording of the Debate Africano programme for RDP África, bringing together several guests to reflect on the main themes discussed throughout the week.

Lecturer Sheila Khan highlighted that this second edition represents the continuation of a research and dialogue journey initiated the previous year. Following a first edition focused on African independence movements and decolonisation processes, this year's event sought to deepen understanding of the experiences, trajectories and narratives of Afro-descendant communities living in former colonial powers and other post-colonial contexts. She also stressed that the continuation of the Summer School is particularly significant within Lusófona University's internationalisation strategy, which maintains close links with Portuguese-speaking African countries.

The Summer School also builds on the work developed through the Forum for African Studies in Portuguese, established in 2025 as part of the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Portuguese-speaking African countries. Its aim is to consolidate a permanent platform for knowledge production and exchange, encouraging historical contextualisation, interdisciplinary research and dialogue across different fields of knowledge.

View the event photos on ULusófona's Facebook page

Text
Bruna Pereira

Video Coverage / Editing
Gabriel Motta

Photo Editing
Paulo Renato