More information
African literatures are both vibrant and substantial, with extensive histories. Whatever limits can be imagined—in terms of geography, genre, language, audience, era—these literatures exceed them. Indeed, given that the African continent has a population of nearly one billion, a total of fifty-four countries, and a plurality of literary and cultural forms, both on the continent and in the African diaspora across millennia, the possibilities for comparative analysis are both challenging and vast. This research committee aims to make a lasting contribution to the field of comparative studies while critically interrogating the discipline’s continued Eurocentric biases.
The ICLA Research Committee on Comparative African Literatures was initially established in 2019. However, its Chairs have had to step down and the ICLA is seeking to re-establish the Committee.
The ICLA is therefore seeking a new Chair and Officers for this research committee. If you are interested in potentially taking on any of these roles, or simply in getting involved in this initiative, please write to Matthew Reynolds (Chair of the ICLA’s Research Development Committee) by 30 September 2025, giving a brief account of your research and your vision for the committee. All relevant focuses and approaches are welcome; and if you have questions about the committee please feel free to ask them.
For more information on the ICLA Research Committees see the Research Committees page, as well as the page of the Research Development Committee.