African Networks and Entanglements in a "Medieval World", sessions at the 2023 International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds, July 3–6, 2023

The study of the European-Asian interaction or the medieval Mediterranean has long been established within Medieval Studies; in more recent years, the Indian Ocean has also become the subject of increasing scholarly attention. The integration of the role of the extensive continent of Africa, its networks, realms, and agents, into the concept of the "Global Medieval", however, remains an ongoing challenge for the field. Seeking to utilise the special thematic strand of "Networks and Entanglements" of the 2023 International Medieval Congress in Leeds, we aim to put together a series of sessions that address the topic and question of "African Networks and Entanglements in a 'Medieval World'".

We welcome papers at the micro-, miso-, and macro- levels that centre on the role of African realms, political entities, or agents as well as the economic, religious, cultural, intellectual, artistic, or diplomatic networks and entanglements from Atlantic and West Africa to the Southern Mediterranean to the Western Indian Ocean region between 300 and 1600 CE, as well as papers that interrogate the role of African realms within 'medieval' world system(s), and/or those that address and challenge the boundaries created by the disciplinary and linguistic constraints of the academy.

Papers from scholars of all career stages and research backgrounds (history, art history, archaeology, philology, religious studies, etc.) are welcome. Travel bursaries to support the attendance of early career researchers, independent scholars, and those working outside the North American/European academe are available.

Session organizers 
Abidemi Babatunde Babalola, British Museum
Andrea M. Achi, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Felege-Selam Solomon Yirga, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Solomon Gebreyes Beyene, Hamburg University
Verena Krebs, Ruhr-University Bochum