Africa-Asia, A New Axis of Knowledge (A-A) Roundtable – Activities Update and Future Plans I

Roundtable Chair(s)

• LH

  Lalita Hanwong

  Kasetsart University, Thailand
• IN

  Ibrahima Niang

  Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal

Roundtable Participant(s)

• FT

  Fadjar Ibnu Thufail

  The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
• PS

  Pinky Saptandari

  Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
• LP

  Lina Puryanti

  Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
• IW

  Irfan Wahyudi

  Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia
• AP

  Adrian Perkasa

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• PP

  Philippe Peycam

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• MH

  Mohomodou Houssouba

  University of Basel, Switzerland
• AK

  Aarti Kawlra

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• RP

  Rita Padawangi

  Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
• 

  Paul Rabe

  International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• TT

  Tommy Tse

  University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
• TH

  Tom Hoogervorst

  Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian & Caribbean Studies (KITLV), Netherlands
• MK

  Mahmood Kooria

  University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• MF

  Mamadou Fall

  Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal
• SC

  Scarlett Cornelissen

  Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• WK

  Webby Kalikiti

  University of Zambia, Zambia
• MS

  Mathew Senga

  University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• EL

  Eric Lawer

  University of Ghana, Ghana
• AN

  Alf Nilsen

  Centre for Asian Studies in Africa, South Africa
• RS

  Richard Sambaiga

  University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• LA

  Lloyd Amoah

  University of Ghana, Ghana

The Roundtable is part of the present A-A long-term initiative dedicated to the cultivation and enhancement of an autonomous humanistic intellectual space of exchange between the two world continents, particularly with actors from these two regions. The story behind the A-A initiative dates from a founding event that was held in Chisamba, Zambia, in 2012, co-organised by the University of Zambia and IIAS, which laid the groundwork for the support of an inclusive ‘Africa-Asia Axis of Knowledge’, notably through the organization of regular meetings such as this one, but also, a series of dedicated Africa-Asia events to be held in Africa, at least every three years. The first of such an event took place in Accra, Ghana, at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 2015. The second event took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2018, with the University of Dar es Salaam. The next event will be held in Dakar, Senegal, in June 2025, with the University Cheikh Anta Diop. In parallel to these major Africa-Asia (A-A) conferences, ICAS events always allow for a number of points of discussion, panels, roundtables or other Africa-Asia-related thematic discussions (some IIAS-supported).

For this Roundtable, to be held exceptionally in Surabaya, the organisers would like to open the meeting with a 30-minute introductory discussion on the subject of Indonesian Initiatives Aimed at Fostering African-Asian Relations. Indonesia hosted the landmark Afro-Asian conference in Bandung in 1955. A number of civic, academic and cultural initiatives in Indonesia were directly inspired by the Bandung historical event. One of the expressions of this interest in forging closer Indonesia-Africa relations was the establishment of the Center for African Studies at the Political and Social Sciences at the University of Airlangga, Surabaya. In many ways, the Center stands today as a cornerstone of the newly established AIIOC. Through this presentation-discussion, we would also like to explore how Africa-Indonesia/Asia multi-dimensional interactions constitute an important subject in the development of area and international studies in Indonesia.