Short Abstract

This panel invites papers on personal, social or cultural exchanges that took place between Portuguese-ruled territories and territories under British or South African rule.

Long Abstract

Southern Africa’s regional historiography remains underdeveloped, as social, political and economic histories are still largely confined within national borders. Even rarer are histories that span the divide between the former Portuguese colonial territories and the rest of the region. This panel invites papers on personal, social or cultural exchanges that took place between Portuguese-ruled territories and territories under British or South African rule. These might include life histories that crossed the imperial divide, or writings that present views from Angola or Mozambique to the remainder of the region, or vice versa.

Discouraging the essentialisation of ‘Lusophone’ or ‘Anglophone’ Africa, we encourage in particular papers that reflect upon or challenge the notion of distinct colonial practices and legacies associated with the former Portuguese territories or with the rest of the region. We also welcome papers that deal with the equivalent exchanges between nations in the postcolonial period. The emphasis of the panel is not on transnational political or military solidarity. However, papers that deal with social, cultural and narrative exchanges that take place in the context of exile are welcomed.

This will be a bilingual panel. Papers may be presented in English or Portuguese.

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