Position Paper

The main output of the workshop will be a co-authored position paper, to be published in open access in the ZMO Programmatic Texts series.

As digital humanities and AI are reshaping the landscape of African studies research, there is a growing need for shared frameworks that address questions of equity, methodology and ethics. This paper responds to that need.

Purpose

The paper will synthesise the discussions from the workshop into a set of recommendations for researchers, funders and institutions working at the intersection of digital humanities, AI and African studies. It aims to provide a strategic reference point for this emerging field, which currently lacks shared standards and clear direction. The paper will centre African perspectives while addressing infrastructure gaps and linguistic diversity.

Contents

The paper will address three areas:

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.

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.

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.

Audience

The paper is addressed to:

  • Research funders seeking models for sustainable, equitable project support
  • Universities developing curricula and training in digital methods
  • Technology developers building tools for multilingual and cross-cultural research
  • Policy makers working on data governance and digital infrastructure

Process

A drafting committee will prepare the paper in the three months following the workshop, incorporating participant feedback and professional editing. The goal is a document that is both rigorous and accessible to non-specialist readers in policy and funding contexts.