Charting New Territory

Name: Charting New Territory: Digital Humanities and AI in African Studies
Start: 2026-02-18T09:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-02-20T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Xplanatorium Herrenhausen

Digital Humanities and AI in African Studies

A Scoping Workshop

A working meeting bringing together researchers from Africa, Europe, and beyond. Through facilitated discussions and structured deliberation—prioritising collaboration over presentations—participants will move from assessing current practices to developing actionable strategies. The outcome: a co-authored position paper guiding the ethical integration of digital humanities and AI in African studies.

About

Participants

Position Paper

Date

18-20 February 2026

Location

Xplanatorium Herrenhausen, Hanover, Germany

Workshop Purpose

Although digital humanities and AI offer transformative potential for African studies, rapid adoption has outpaced critical reflection. Most AI tools remain optimised for Western languages, digitisation decisions often reinforce who controls historical materials, and African institutions frequently lack the infrastructure to participate on equal terms. This workshop brings together international experts to move beyond describing these challenges and develop concrete strategies that keep African perspectives at the forefront.

From Assessment to Action

We prioritise production over presentation. Each day, participants progress from mapping current barriers to co-designing actionable strategies, ensuring that African epistemologies remain at the centre of this process. Daily synthesis sessions connect insights across groups.

Structured Work Streams

Three integrated work streams will tackle critical intersections through facilitated dialogue rather than traditional panels: Methodological Integration, Equitable North–South/South–South Collaboration and Ethical Frameworks.

Position Paper

The workshop will culminate in the creation of a co-authored strategic roadmap. This document will outline the future direction of the field, providing practical recommendations to inform future research, funding policies and institutional decision-making.

Three Work Streams

Work Stream 1: Methodological Integration & Digital Preservation

Adapting AI for African languages and establishing sustainable digital preservation models. Participants will document existing computational methods and infrastructure barriers, then develop technical standards and protocols suited to resource-constrained settings.
Work Stream 2: Equitable Collaboration

Designing partnership models that address power imbalances in North-South and South-South research relationships. This stream will develop mechanisms for resource sharing and intra-continental collaboration, with African epistemologies at the centre.
Work Stream 3: Ethical Frameworks & Digital Sovereignty

Developing frameworks for ethical AI implementation that protect digital sovereignty and promote equitable scholarly exchange. Standards will emphasise community engagement beyond consultation to true co-creation.