To Build the World Anew, 70 Years after Bandung: What Solidarity for an African-Asian Common Destiny?
Reconstruire le monde, soixante-dix ans après Bandung : quelle solidarité pour une communauté de destin Afrique-Asie ?
Published on Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Abstract
Le colloque se base sur l’invitation du président Sukarno, architecte de la Conférence afro-asiatique, dans son mémorable discours à l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies (30 septembre 1960), pour reconstruire le monde. Au cœur de cette vaste entreprise, se trouvent la solidarité entre l’Afrique et l’Asie, et leurs liens avec le reste du monde. Dans une perspective trans- et multidisciplinaire, il s’agira pour les participant·es à la conférence de penser les formes et les modalités d’une solidarité entre les deux continents et à l’échelle du monde, qui permettrait de reconstruire un monde qui fait face à des crises multiformes et inédites.
Announcement
24-25 April, 2025, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
Organisateurs-Responsables
- China Africa Research Center (CARC), Université of Lome (Togo) – Host Institution
- African-Asian and International Studies Institute (AFRASI), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
- Institute of African Studies (IASZNU), Zhejiang Normal University, (Chine)
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Togo
Background
From April 18 to 24, 1955, the now-historic conference of twenty-nine Asian and African countries was held in Bandung, Indonesia (Jack, 1955). Since then, the Bandung Afro-Asian Conference has been interpreted in various ways. Its historical significance is well-established, especially as it catalyzed subsequent conferences that were pivotal for the Third World—a non-geographical concept often equated today with the global South. Notable among these are the Belgrade Conference (Serbia, September 1-6, 1961) that founded the Non-Aligned Movement, the Tricontinental Conference in Havana
(Cuba, January 3-16, 1966), and the establishment of the Solidarity Organization of the Peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America (OSPAAAL) (Khudori, 2020). In the shadow of the Bandung Conference, landmark institutions and worldviews emerged, particularly those rooted in decolonial thought (Mignolo, 2013).
The achievements and legacy of Bandung remain relevant, shaping major contemporary debates across Africa, Asia, and beyond. The Lomé symposium aims to critically examine this legacy and assess Bandung's relevance in today’s world, seven decades later.
This international, transdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary event, to be held on April 24 and 25, 2025, in Lomé (Togo), is themed: “Rebuilding the World, 70 Years after Bandung: What Solidarity for an Africa-Asia Community of Destiny?” It invites the scientific community and facilitators of Africa-Asia relations to reflect on the major issues shaping this intercontinental encounter and its global significance (Mine, 2022).
The concept of Shared Future, central to the Bandung conference, was grounded in both continents shared historical experiences of colonization and Western influence, as well as their common aspirations. This conference seeks to renew President Sukarno’s invitation, made in his iconic address to the United Nations General Assembly (September 30, 1960), to rebuild the world. Central to this endeavor is fostering solidarity between Africa and Asia and strengthening their global connections. Participants will explore the modalities of such solidarity in addressing the multifaceted crises of the modern world through transdisciplinary perspectives.
While the principles of the Bandung conference and Sukarno’s call to rebuild the world remain pertinent, the world has significantly evolved since 1955 and 1960. The bipolarity that led to the Non-Aligned Movement has given way to a multipolar world order. Asia has emerged as a major global player, economically and politically, led by China’s pivotal role in shaping global relations, particularly with Africa. Discussions on Bandung’s enduring spirit have led scholars to consider the global South as its intellectual and political legacy.
In recent years, the global South has evolved into a dynamic political, economic, and cultural entity (López, 2007). In this context, BRICS+ serves as a transformative factor reshaping global economic and geopolitical dynamics.
Given these shifts, the symposium, themed “Reconstructing the World, 70 Years after Bandung: What
Solidarity for an Africa-Asia Community of Destiny?” will not only commemorate Bandung’s legacy but also envision the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Africa-Asia cooperation and the global community.
Focus of the Symposium
Papers will be organized around the following non-exhaustive themes:
1. The history and legacy of the Bandung Conference in fostering an Africa-Asia community of destiny.
2. Africa, Asia, and global relations 70 years after Bandung: Prospects for world order.
3. From the Old South to the Global South: Conceptualizing and debating terminological implications.
Structure of the Symposium
The colloquium will include an opening ceremony featuring an inaugural lecture, a closing ceremony, paper presentations (for the first two thematic axes), and panels (notably for the third thematic axis).
Procedure for Submission and Selection of Papers
Proposals for papers (abstracts of 300 words) should be submitted via the provided link. Due to limited resources, only the most outstanding submissions, selected through a double-blind peer review by the scientific committee, will be prioritized.
Key Dates
-
Abstract submission deadline: March 10, 2025
- Notification of participation: March 15, 2025
- Submission of complete papers: April 15, 2025
- Conference dates: April 24-25, 2025
NB: Participants wishing to receive an early reply and a formal invitation for administrative purposes (funding - visa) should specify this in a footnote to their paper proposal.
To contact the organizers, please write to the following address colloque.bandoeng@gmail.com
Symposium Languages
The conference will be conducted in French, English, and Mandarin. Depending on available resources, translation services may be provided.
Organizing and Scientific Committee Honorary Chairpersons
- Professor Adama Kpodar, President of the University of Lome
- H.E.M. Chao Weidong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Togo Members of the Organizing and Scientific Committee
- Professor Joseph Koffi N. Tsigbe, Historian, CARC, University of Lome
- Professor Isaac Bazié, Literary Cultural Studies, AFRASI-LAFI, Université du Québec à Montréal
- Professor Edinam Kola, Geographer, CARC, University of Lome
- Professor Yendoubé Laré, Physicist, CARC, University of Lome
- Professor Min Sun, Didactician-Translator, School of Languages, Université du Québec à Montréal
- Dr. Maman Tachiwou Aboudou, Economist, CARC, University of Lomé
- Dr. Namoin Yao-Baglo, Communication Studies, CARC, University of Lomé
- Dr. Barèrèm-Mêlgueba Mao, Optical Communications and IT, CARC, University of Lomé
- Dr. Folly Gada A.-Ekué-A., Historian and Political Scientist, CARC, University of Lomé
- Dr. Mamadou Bayala, Theatre Studies, Université Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly-Dédougou (Burkina Faso)
- Dr. Fikresus Amahazion, Political Scientist, Eritrean Center for Strategic Studies, Asmara, Eritrea
Bibliography
Jack, Homer Alexander, Bandung: On the Spot Description of the Asian-African Conference, Bandung, Indonesia, April 1955. Chicago, Toward Freedom, May 1955.
Khudori, Darwish, Arimbi, Diah, Bazié, Isaac (eds.), Bandung-Belgrade-Havana in Global
History and Perspective. The deployment of Bandung Constellation towards a Global Future, Surabaya, Airlangga University Press: https://bandungspirit.org/IMG/pdf/bandung-belgrade- havana_proof_3.pdf
Khudori, Darwis, « The rise of Asia and the polarisation of global forces: western galaxy and Bandung constellation », Kapital Afrik, 7. May 2020: https://www.kapitalafrik.com/2020/05/07/the-rise-of-asia-and-the-polarisation-of-global- forces-western-galaxy-and-bandung-constellation/
López, Alfred J., 2007, « Preface & Acknowledgments », The Global South, vol. 1, no. 1, p. v. Trad. V. Capdepuy.
Marton, Péter, and Tamás Matura, “The ‘Voracious Dragon’, the ‘Scramble’ and the ‘Honey
Pot’: Conceptions of Conflict over Africa’s Natural Resources.” Journal of Contemporary African Studies 29 (2): 155–67, 2011: doi:10.1080/02589001.2011.555191
Mignolo, Walter, « Géopolitique de la sensibilité et du savoir. (Dé)colonialité, pensée frontalière et désobéissance épistémologique », Mouvements, 2013/1 n° 73, 2013. p.181- 190 : https://doi.org/10.3917/mouv.073.0181.
Mine, Yoichi, Connecting Africa and Asia: Afrasia as a Benign Community, London, Routledge, 2022: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003229261
Sukarno, To Build the World Anew, 30 Septembre 1960, UN General Assembly, New York: https://bandungspirit.org/IMG/pdf/soekarno-to_build_the_world_anew-un-general-assembly- 1960.pdf
Subjects
Places
- Lomé, Togo (01BP1515)
Event attendance modalities
Full on-site event
Date(s)
- Monday, March 10, 2025
Attached files
Keywords
- Bandoeng, Afrique, Asie
Contact(s)
- Koffi Nutefé Joseph Tsigbe
courriel : jotsigbe [at] gmail [dot] com - Namoin Yao-Baglo
courriel : ynamoin [at] yahoo [dot] fr
Reference Urls
Information source
- Koffi Nutefé Joseph Tsigbe
courriel : jotsigbe [at] gmail [dot] com
License
This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.
To cite this announcement
« To Build the World Anew, 70 Years after Bandung: What Solidarity for an African-Asian Common Destiny? », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, https://doi.org/10.58079/13c9d
