Africa and Artificial Intelligence: Critical Perspectives on Power, Culture, and Society
The African Studies Review invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit papers for
a special forum that critically examines the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the
African continent. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into various aspects of life on the
continent, it is imperative to consolidate emerging perspectives on how these technologies
reflect, reinforce, and challenge existing power structures, cultural norms, and the lingering
technological inequalities between Africa and the Global North. Hence, this forum aims to
contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between AI, power,
culture, and society in Africa, with a specific focus on how AI is both shaping and being shaped
by the agency and subjectivities of African actors. We welcome a variety of methodological and
interdisciplinary perspectives, including those that explore AI’s potential for driving economic
development, as well as the ethical, governance, and policy implications of AI in Africa and
encourage discussions on data privacy and justice, security, transparency, sustainability, and
accountability. Our goal is to produce an issue that scrutinizes the power dynamics, cultural
implications, and social and developmental consequences of AI technologies and platforms in
Africa. We welcome submissions that engage with, but are not limited to, the following themes
and topics:
Artificial intelligence, African Innovation, and development
Papers may explore the potential of AI to drive sustainable development and economic growth,
highlighting innovative AI applications, startups, and initiatives in different African cities.
Authors are encouraged to pay particular attention to the challenges these processes involve,
including reflections on how risk and value are established, and on engagements with
communities and other stakeholders.
AI Ethics, Governance, and Policy Frameworks
With AI regulation increasingly being prioritized by African states and a continental strategy in
place by the African Union, authors may focus on the ethical, governance, and policy
implications of AI on the continent, including issues of data privacy and justice, security,
transparency, sustainability and accountability and their connections to the operations of
extractive global north platforms operating in Africa.
AI and African Epistemologies
Papers examine the epistemological implications of AI in Africa, including the ways in which AI
is challenging, reinforcing or merging with existing knowledge systems, as well as the
implications of AI for African epistemologies.
Artificial Intelligence and Cultural production
While the data informing AI largely stems from outside of the continent, engaging with these
technologies leads to new cultural productions. We welcome investigations of the interplay
between AI and these African cultural productions, including the ways in which AI tools and
technologies are being used to create, disseminate, and consume cultural artifacts, as well as
the implications of AI for the aesthetic and ethical evaluation of African cultural expressions.
AI and Power structures
Although there is a dependence on technologies and infrastructures designed and financed by
big tech companies, there is also traction on the continent regarding local AI development,
expertise, and creative adoption. Authors may examine the ways in which AI technologies
reflect, reinforce, and challenge existing power structures in Africa, including the role of AI
platforms in perpetuating or disrupting state power, patriarchal culture, coloniality, hegemonic
knowledge-making practices, and other forms of oppression.
We welcome a diverse range of theoretical and methodological approaches from scholars in
the fields of science and technology studies (STS), digital humanities, postcolonial theory,
decolonial thought, feminist and queer theories, as well as those utilizing ethnographic and
qualitative research methods. Submissions should be in the form of full papers (between 6,000
and 8,000 words), and must adhere to the ASR style guidelines.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/information/style-guide.
Accepted papers will be invited to participate in a panel workshop at the African Studies
Association annual meeting in November 2025 in Atlanta. After this workshop, the papers will
undergo a further peer review process for publication in the ASR. Please submit an abstract by
March 15, and complete papers by July 21, 2025. For questions and submissions, please
contact James Yeku, jyeku@ku.edu or Leah Junck, Junck leahjunck@gmail.com.
