Call for Papers for Joint Bartlett and Wits University Conference about African Architecture

The Bartlett School of Architecture in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand (Wits University) will host an international conference titled 'Ongoing and Emerging Discourses on African Architectural Practice’ from 3 to 9 July 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The conference is part of an ongoing initiative by the African Architectural and Urban History Network (AFRAUHN), of which Prof Murray Fraser is a founding member. AFRAUHN was set up to promote, support, develop and disseminate high-quality research about the architectural and urban history of the African continent and its diaspora.

Call for Papers 

Recognising that the discourse about African architecture, urban planning and spatial design is more complex than the binary ‘traditional’/‘colonial’ or ‘African’/‘Western’ models, the conference organisers invite abstracts that critically examine the status quo of architectural and urban planning research, writing and practice. 

The organisers welcome cross-disciplinary submissions from the perspective of academics, architectural practitioners, urban development policymakers and officials from national or regulatory institutions. Abstracts should be between 300–500 words and must be submitted by Thursday 21 March 2024. 

Funding is available through the UCL-Wits University Strategic Partner Funds for academics and architects based in Africa, outside South Africa, to enable them to take part in the conference.

Registration for the conference opens on Thursday 28 March 2024. 

More information

• Find out more about the conference and call for papers
• Submit an abstract
• View Prof Murray Fraser’s profile
• View Prof Eva Branscome’s profile

Image: Wits Great Hall during the Homecoming light show in 2022, Brett Eloff