The 3rd Howard University African Indigenous Knowledge and Languages (AIKAL) Conference will take place on 19–20 February 2027 under the theme “African Indigenous Knowledge, Languages, Community, and Youth Empowerment in the Digital Era.” Organised by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, Department of African Studies, and the Center for African Studies, the conference will be held virtually via Zoom. The conference will bring together scholars, educators, policymakers, activists, Africanists, Indigenous knowledge holders, linguists, creative writers, cultural practitioners, community leaders and students interested in the present and future of Africa and its Diaspora. About the Conference The 2027 AIKAL Conference continues discussions from the previous conference, which highlighted the need to move beyond simply documenting the erosion of African languages, Indigenous knowledge systems, ecological resources and cultural practices. African Indigenous knowledge systems and languages are living and evolving systems through which communities transmit history, philosophy, identity, ecological knowledge and social values. The conference will therefore focus on approaches that promote revitalisation, intergenerational transmission, community ownership, institutional engagement and meaningful youth participation. The organisers are seeking innovative research, community-based initiatives and transformative practices that examine what is working, what challenges remain and what changes are necessary to place communities and young people at the centre of knowledge production and transformation. Conference Sub-Themes Researchers and other contributors may submit work addressing any of the following areas: Herbal medicine Indigenous foods Indigenous conflict resolution Indigenous governance Indigenous forms of communication Indigenous women and development Indigenous environmental sustainability African Indigenous languages Folklore, music and proverbial wisdom Indigenous scripts and preservation of Indigenous languages and literature Documentation and preservation of endangered African languages Agriculture and Indigenous practices Archaeological findings and African languages Indigenous education African languages in the digital age Indigenous economies African Indigenous law Indigenous youth voices Indigenous forms of diplomacy African literature Indigenous gender relations Indigenous epistemologies Cultural spaces Documentation and digitalisation of Indigenous knowledge Indigenous science and technology Indigenous astronomy Indigenous knowledge transmission and the Diaspora Indigenous knowledge forms and artificial intelligence African languages and artificial intelligence Individual Paper Proposals The conference invites individual paper proposals that align with one or more of the listed sub-themes. Accepted individual papers will be organised into panels, and selected panelists will receive information from the conference organisers. Applicants should clearly identify the sub-theme under which their proposed presentation falls and provide an abstract describing the research, community initiative, practice or topic they intend to present. Panel Proposals Researchers and practitioners may also submit proposals for complete panels. Each panel proposal should identify the relevant sub-theme and include a 250-word summary describing the overall focus and contributions of the panel. Panel proposals should also provide the names and institutional affiliations of three or four panelists, the presentation topic for each participant, and a 250-word abstract for each panelist. The proposed presentations should demonstrate a coherent connection to the conference theme and contribute to discussions surrounding African Indigenous knowledge, languages, communities and youth in the digital era. Application Deadline The deadline for submitting paper and panel abstracts is 10 November 2026. Applicants must submit their abstracts through the designated online submission form and indicate the relevant conference sub-theme. The submission should also specify whether the participant intends to present virtually or in person, although the 2027 conference itself is scheduled to be conducted virtually. Acceptance notifications are expected by 20 November 2026. Publication Opportunity Papers presented at the conference may subsequently undergo peer review. Papers that are accepted for publication following the review process will be published in an edited volume. This provides contributors with an opportunity to further develop their conference presentations into scholarly publications addressing African Indigenous knowledge, languages, culture, education, technology and related fields. How to Apply Interested scholars, students, educators, Indigenous knowledge holders, practitioners and other eligible contributors should prepare their paper or panel proposal according to the relevant submission requirements. An individual submission should include the applicant’s first and last name, email address, institutional affiliation, presentation type, paper title, selected sub-theme and abstract. Panel applicants should provide the additional panel information and individual abstracts required by the organisers. The abstract should be submitted through the official conference application form before 10 November 2026. Why Participate? The AIKAL Conference provides an interdisciplinary platform for examining African Indigenous knowledge and languages in contemporary contexts. Its broad range of sub-themes allows contributors to explore connections between traditional knowledge and areas such as education, environmental sustainability, agriculture, governance, literature, digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The emphasis on community participation and youth empowerment also creates space for discussions about how Indigenous knowledge can be transmitted between generations while adapting to changing technological and social environments. Key Conference Details Conference: 3rd Howard University African Indigenous Knowledge and Languages ConferenceDate: 19–20 February 2027Theme: African Indigenous Knowledge, Languages, Community, and Youth Empowerment in the Digital EraFormat: Virtual via ZoomAbstract Deadline: 10 November 2026Acceptance Notifications: 20 November 2026Publication: Selected papers may be peer reviewed for inclusion in an edited volume Official Submission Participants should submit their abstracts through the designated AIKAL Conference Google Form and carefully review the submission requirements before applying. Applicants should retain confirmation of their submission and monitor their email for acceptance notifications. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) does not take ownership or credit for the opportunities shared on this platform. All opportunities are sourced from official announcements and external sources for informational purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to verify all details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements from the official source before applying. Opportunities may be updated or changed by the providing organisations.