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Room S1, ARB
About
Thinking through Knowledge Production: A View from the South
The rapid transformations at the turn of the century have questioned our capacity as knowledge producers, publishers, and disseminators to keep up with tremendous changes in our environments. The terrifying turbulence of the last twenty-five years has exposed huge gaps in our willingness to understand where and how to proffer answers to the multiple challenges confronting humanity, from changing cities to shifting continental realities. Advances in artificial intelligence and large language learning models further threaten not only the viability of content creators but also our ability to nurture future curators and disseminators.
Against this background, this presentation focuses on three areas: first, arguing for scholarly platforms beyond journals towards books and monographs to break a vicious circle in global publishing. Second, confronting censorship and disregard for dissenting voices in Senegal and West Africa. Finally, reflecting on Amalion’s seventeen-year experiment in multilingual, independent publishing for both academic and wider publics.
Sulaiman Adebowale is the director of Amalion, an independent publishing initiative based in Dakar, Senegal, whose principal mission is to disseminate the scientific and cultural knowledge of Africa for the broader understanding of humanity. He has worked as a print journalist and was Managing Editor at CODESRIA in Senegal. He studied English at the University of Lagos and publishing and electronic media at Oxford Brookes University.
Please note that exceptionally, the CAS seminar series will take place on Tuesdays from 16:30 to 18:00 throughout Lent Term 2026.
All are welcome to attend. An informal drinks reception will be held after the talk.