Black Histories

Black Histories Dialogue (Taylor and Francis) is a biannual, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original and current research on a global understanding of the histories of people of African descent. It is pleased to announce a call for papers for a special issue on “The African Presence in Asia: Past and Present”.

The African presence in Asia is a topic that has been largely ignored in academic curricula and research. The cultural contributions of Africans to Asia are not fully explored. In Japan, Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811), is said to have been a black samurai. Whether Tamuramaro was black or not is not historically accounted for, however, it suggests that blacks were not necessarily associated with the idea of servitude and submission in Japan. The history of Africans in China could be dated back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). In more recent times, the number of African residents, students, and entrepreneurs in China has increased significantly. China’s engagement with Africa has expanded through trade, investment, and infrastructure projects, leading to a growing African diaspora in several Chinese cities.

This journal issue highlights the need for original research to shed light on the historical trajectory and contemporary contexts of the relationship between Asian population groups and the Africans they come into contact with who study and settle in their countries. 

Key questions this issue would like to explore include but are not limited to:

• What roles did Africans play in Asian societies during different historical periods?
• What hidden histories of Africa and Africans in Asia have yet to be uncovered?
• What are the contemporary contexts and discourses that inform the engagement of Africans living across the region?
• What were the cultural and social interactions between Africans and Asians in the past, and how did these interactions shape identity, hybridity, and cultural expressions?
• How has the African presence in Asia evolved in modern times, particularly in terms of migration, diaspora communities, and cultural exchanges?
• What challenges do Africans face when settling in Asian societies?
• What are the narratives, representations, and stereotypes associated with Africans in Asian media, literature, and popular culture, and how do they contribute to the history shaping perceptions and attitudes?

By delving into these questions and beyond, we aim to arrive at a deeper and more complicated understanding of diversity and citizenship within the complexities of modern society. 

In this special issue, we are looking for essays (6000 words), interviews (2000 words), article commentaries (2000 words), original unpublished creative writing, and book reviews (1000 words) regarding the presence of Africans in Asia. We have been thankful for the contributions we have received in the past and we encourage individuals who are interested in this topic. 

The editors invite abstracts of 300 words on relevant topics. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 30th September 2024. Work will be due in 6 months after a provisional acceptance has been made (i.e. 31st March 2025). Please email your abstracts (together with a short bio, 100 words max) to both editors: Midori SAITO (Tsuru University), [email protected] and Emily CHOW-QUESADA (Hong Kong Baptist University), [email protected]. 

Join the call for original research and contribute to a more informed academic community and curious individuals alike.

#AfricanPresenceInAsia #OriginalResearch #DiversityAndCitizenship

Instructions for Authors