CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Encyclopaedia Africana Volume 4 Production
Theme: Africa’s Contribution to Science, Technology, and Innovation
1.0 Introduction
The Encyclopaedia Africana Project (EAP) invites abstract submissions from scholars, researchers, practitioners, and knowledge holders to contribute to the fourth (4th) volume of the Encyclopaedia Africana.
Following its adoption by the African Union as a flagship project and guided by the Pan African Scientific Committee, the Encyclopaedia Africana Project (EAP) seeks to develop a comprehensive and authoritative account of the history, development, and future trajectories of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Africa, grounded in African perspectives and knowledge systems for Volume 4 of the Encyclopaedia Africana.
Moving beyond broad historical narratives, the volume will highlight Africa’s intellectual and scientific roles in global development, promoting studies of key events, personalities, systems, and processes that showcase Africa’s active part in shaping knowledge over time. It builds on W. E. B. Du Bois’s original vision to create an authoritative collection of knowledge that reflects African perspectives.
The initiative also responds to the longstanding Eurocentric historiography that has marginalized or denied the contributions of Africa Africans and people of African descent to science and technology. Rooted in colonial ideologies, these narratives have portrayed science as exclusively European, often dismissing efforts to recover African achievements. However, with the rise of decolonial scholarship and new research approaches, these assumptions are being challenged, creating space for more accurate and inclusive histories.
Volume 4 seeks to highlight indigenous knowledge systems, everyday innovations, and dynamic practices, while amplifying African voices from the continent and the diaspora to reshape global understanding of Africa’s past and contemporary contributions to world civilization.
Three (3) volumes of the Encyclopaedia Africana have been published to date, focusing mainly on biographies of impactful Africans and some political histories. The fourth (4th) volume aims at continuing the tradition while also expanding beyond the limited scope of previous editions.
A focus on the histories of science, technology, and innovation in Africa can expand the scope of Africanist literature beyond the civilizational narratives and engagements with imperial power which have been well enounced in previous volumes and in the broader Africanist literature, such as the UNESCO histories. It promises to highlight the quotidian inventions, dynamic practices, and systems that have sustained African societies and have contributed to the making of our world.
We invite all scholars in and of Africa, and of the African Diaspora, to take part in the preparation of this encyclopaedia. The Encyclopaedia Africana Project Secretariat will publish rolling articles on its website and collate them for the print edition of its 4th volume.
2.0 Objective of the Call
This Call for Abstracts aims to:
- Identify and to commission high-quality entries for Encyclopaedia Africana Volume 4
- Promote an Afrocentric and interdisciplinary approach to the study of science, technology and innovation.
- Build a network of contributors across Africa and the global African diaspora
3.0 Scope and Thematic Areas
Abstracts are invited in (but not limited to) the following thematic areas:
A. Foundations of African Science
- Early scientific traditions in the Nile Valley and other African civilizations
- Africa’s contributions to global scientific knowledge
B. Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- African epistemologies and systems of knowledge production
- Environmental, agricultural, and ecological knowledge
C. Astronomy and Cosmology
- African astronomical traditions (e.g., the Dogon people, the Kingdom of Kush).
- Innovations in navigation and mapping systems used by ancient African civilizations.
D. Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Technology, and Innovation
- Early African mathematical systems (e.g., the Yoruba, the Igbo).
- Ancient and contemporary engineers, architects, and builders.
- African-led breakthroughs in infrastructure development (e.g., smart cities, transport innovations).
- Engineering, architecture, and technological innovations
- Innovations in digital platforms, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence
E. Scientific knowledge embedded in Africa’s pre-colonial material culture
- Metallurgy and Indigenous Technologies
- Architecture and Settlement Design
- Textiles, Clothing, and Decorative Arts
- Pottery, Ceramics, and Domestic Material Culture
F. Health, Medicine, and the Life Sciences
- African medicinal plants, treatments, and healing practices.
- Biomedical Research and Public Health Innovations
- Biodiversity and Bio-resources in Drug Discovery
- Pioneers in modern medical research and health solutions.
G. Renewable Energy
- Innovations in the renewable energy sector (solar, wind, and hydropower technologies).
- Affordable and sustainable technologies addressing energy poverty.
H. Environmental Science and Sustainability
- African innovations in environmental conservation and climate resilience.
- Indigenous knowledge in sustainable resource management.
I. Agriculture and Food Security
- Indigenous agricultural techniques and crops (e.g., African rice, sorghum, millet).
- Contributions to sustainable farming practices and agro-innovation.
J. Space Science, Astronomy, and Climate Innovation
- Africa’s contributions to global astronomy projects (e.g., Square Kilometre Array).
- Research in climate science and environmental conservation, with African solutions addressing the climate crisis.
K. Historical Figures
- African and diasporan scientists and scholars from antiquity through the colonial period to the present.
- Contributions by African intellectuals in classical Islamic scientific scholarship.
L. Contemporary Figures
- Prominent African scientists, engineers, and innovators in the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Modern entrepreneurs and tech innovators who are shaping Africa’s future.
M. African Diaspora Contributions
- Contributions of Africans in the diaspora to global science, technology, and innovation.
N. Science, Philosophy, and Epistemology
- African philosophy of science
- Intersections of science, spirituality, and ethics
O. Science, Society and Culture
- Science within African social and cultural systems
- Gender and knowledge production
P. Contemporary Science, Technology and Innovation
- Modern scientific institutions and innovation ecosystems in Africa
- Science policy, digital transformation, and technology development
Q. Decolonizing Scientific Knowledge
- Reframing the history of science from African perspectives
- Methodologies for reconstructing African scientific traditions
4.0 Abstract Submission Guidelines
Length
500-800 words
Title
Clear and descriptive
Content should include
- Purpose and scope of the proposed entry
- Key argument or thesis
- Methodological approach
- Relevance to the theme of African STI
Languages
Abstract can be submitted in any of the following African Union Working languages (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Kiswahili, and Spanish)
Author Details
- Full Name
- Institutional Affiliation
- Short Bio (200 words max)
- Contact Email
- WhatsApp Number
5.0 Selection Criteria
Abstracts will be evaluated based on:
- Relevance to the theme and thematic areas
- Originality and scholarly contribution
- Clarity of argument and methodology
- Alignment with Afrocentric and interdisciplinary perspectives
6.0 Important Dates
7.0 Submission Procedure
Encyclopaedia Africana Volume 4 Abstract Submission – [Author Name]
8.0 Review and Next Steps
- All abstracts will undergo editorial screening.
- Successful applicants will receive formal invitations to submit full entries
- Detailed author guidelines will be provided upon acceptance
9.0 Contact Information
Encyclopaedia Africana Project Secretariat
10.0 Closing Statement
This Call for Abstracts offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a landmark intellectual initiative aimed at documenting and advancing Africa’s scientific, technological, and Innovative heritage. Contributors are encouraged to bring forward innovative, rigorous, and transformative perspectives.
Issued by:
Encyclopaedia Africana Project Secretariat
On behalf of the Pan-African Scientific Committee (PASC) of the EAP
