Call for Abstracts – Our African Family, Culture and Values Conference (TIERs)

Deadline: 04 August 2025, by 11:59 pm WAT

The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) is pleased to invite African scholars, researchers, sociologists and professionals to submit papers for the inaugural Our African Family, Culture and Values (Hybrid) Conference.

1. THEME OF THE CONFERENCE: RECLAIMING AFRICAN FAMILY, CULTURE AND VALUES. This conference seeks to reclaim African family, culture, and values through a historically accurate, inclusive, and decolonial lens. Across the continent, anti-African actors, particularly from the West, are seeking to reshape our African identity in a bid to suppress rights and escalate the abuse that our mothers, sisters, brothers, children, family and friends already face – in direct contradiction to the spirit of “Ubuntu” that espouses oneness of community.

This conference challenges these foreign narratives that seek to tell us who we are by exploring our true African traditions, concept of family, and diverse cultural practices to promote indigenous understandings of family, kinship, gender, and social cohesion.

SUGGESTED SUB-THEMES

• Diversity and inclusion of African family structures across time and regions.
• Precolonial African understandings of gender, sexuality, and kinship.
• Colonial and postcolonial Influence in the renouncing of African values.
• The use of global far-right religious narratives to distort African cultural heritage.
• Foreign anti-rights actors’ influence on national policies, public morality and undermining of human rights.

2. SUBMISSIONS 

We are inviting interested authors to submit abstracts based on already concluded or ongoing research work or academic writing that directly relates to the conference theme and sub-themes outlined above. Subsequently, authors with selected abstracts will be required to submit a position paper based on the abstract after incorporating feedback from the conference. The submission and review process will follow these steps:

• Abstract Submission (500-word limit)
  • Submit an abstract and annotated outline that includes the proposed title, approach, and relevance to the theme.
  • Abstracts will be reviewed by TIERs and external reviewers, and successful submissions will be shortlisted based on originality, academic rigour, and relevance to the goal of reclaiming African family, culture, and values through a historically accurate, inclusive, and decolonial lens.
  • Authors of accepted abstracts will be required to submit the first draft of a position paper (2,000 – 4,000 Words) based on their abstract and initial feedback from the review team.
• Conference Presentation
  • The first draft will serve as the foundation for a presentation at the Our African Family, Culture and Values Conference.
  • Authors will receive further feedback and constructive input during the conference session.
• Final Revised Papers
  • Authors will incorporate feedback from the conference and reviewers to prepare and submit the final version of their position paper.
  • Final papers will form part of a working paper series and may be considered for journal publication.

3. ABSTRACT FORMAT

• Title
  • Provide a concise and descriptive title (maximum 150–200 characters).
    • Avoid abbreviations or jargon in the title.
• Abstract Narrative text (500-word limit)
  • Avoid using jargon and acronyms.
  • Background and Significance of Proposed Study: Briefly describe the significance of the topic and why it matters in the context of African family, culture, and values. What is known about the topic? What is not known?
  • Research Objective or Guiding Question: Clearly state the aim of the study or the problem under investigation.
  • Methods: Provide a concise description of the methodology, theoretical framework, or analytical approach. o Key Findings or Expected Findings: Summarize the main outcomes or arguments.
  • Conclusion/Implications: State how the paper contributes to reclaiming African family, culture, and values through a historically accurate, inclusive, and decolonial lens.
• Keywords: List three to five keywords, each separated by semicolons (e.g., African family systems; precolonial kinship; decolonial narratives).
• Author(s) Information
  • Corresponding Author: Full name, Degree(s) (e.g. BSc, MSc, MA, or PhD), Institution (Optional), City, Country
  • Co-Authors: List in order of contribution: Author #2, Degree(s), (e.g. BSc, MSc, MA, or PhD), City, Country; Author #N, Degree(s) (e.g. MSc, MA, or PhD), Institution (Optional), City, Country
  • Corresponding Author Contact Information: Email and mobile number
• Referencing and Language:
  • All citation and referencing must follow standard academic formats (APA).

Abstracts and position papers must be submitted in English, and authors are encouraged to have their work proofread if English is not their first language. (Unfortunately, we are unable to take submissions in languages other than English due to limited resources, however, we intend to expand language accessibility for future conferences)

4. GUIDELINES : 

Applications should be sent to abstracts@initiative4equality.org by 11:59 pm WAT on August 4th, 2025, with the subject line: Position Paper on African tradition, culture, and family values. Late submissions will not be accepted.

• Each participant can submit a maximum of two abstracts as first author as far as the abstracts focus on different sub-themes. There is no limit to the number of abstract submissions allowed for co-authorship.
• The author is solely responsible for the ethical and scientific integrity of the submission, as well as its grammatical and stylistic form.
• The corresponding author is responsible for the abstract. Please note that only the corresponding author will receive communications regarding the abstract and is responsible for ensuring all co-authors are informed of its status.
• Please indicate in your cover email if you will require support for accommodation or travel.

5. ASSESSMENT AND SCREENING

• All abstracts will be evaluated by at least two reviewers through a double-blind review process.
• All shortlisted applicants will receive detailed feedback from the review panel and will be expected to revise their drafts accordingly and resubmit the final paper.
• Upon confirmation of abstract acceptance, the presenting author must register for the conference.
• Authors with selected papers will deliver their presentations at the conference, either in person or virtually.

Limited funding will be available to cover travel expenses (International/local) for only a few selected authors; self-funded participants are encouraged to submit. 

Travel expenses of selected authors delivering papers in person can be covered, either fully or partially.

6. TIMELINE

• Call for Papers Launch: July 21, 2025.
• Deadline for Submission of Abstract & Annotated Outline: Aug 4, 2025.
• Notification of Abstract Acceptance Aug 22, 2025.
• Submission of First Draft Position Paper: September 15, 2025.
• Submission of Conference Presentation Slides: September 20, 2025.
• Our African Family, Culture and Values Conference: September 30, 2025.
• Submission of Final Revised Position Paper: October 22, 2025.