Leeds delegation at AASR conference in Abuja, Nigeria

The Centre for Religion and Public Life was well represented at a recent conference of the African Association for the Study of Religions, held in Abuja, Nigeria, 10-11 April 2024.

Under the overall theme of “Engaging African Realities: Re-assessing African values, spirituality, religious innovation and competition,” the two-day conference featured a wide range of presentations on topics relating to religion in contemporary African societies.

This included presentations by the following CRPL members:

• Bonaventure Chia (pictured in the middle), PhD student in the Centre, presented “CPSC Deradicalisation Programme: Creating a Future for Former Boko Haram members?”
• Dr Nduka Udeagha (pictured on the right), CRPL Visiting Research Fellow, presented “Digital Spirituality: A Changing Pattern of Sacred Specialists in Contemporary Igbo Religious Culture.”
• CRPL member Dr Abel Ugba was unable to attend in person, but recorded his presentation online: “Of Provocation and Agent Provocateur: New Media and the Remaking of Influence (and authority?) in Contemporary African Pentecostalism.”
• CRPL member Prof. Adriaan van Klinken (pictured on the left) delivered a keynote lecture at the conference, “Engaging African Realities through Nigerian Literature.”

The conference was a great opportunity for exchange and networking with other researchers from across Nigeria, Africa and beyond. At the fringes of the conference, the Leeds participants were also able to explore some of the major religious sites of Abuja, by visiting the National Mosque and the National Christian Centre.

(Editor: I love the red shirts!)