Epistemic Justice and the AI Frontier: African Libraries Driving Ethical Transformation

Satellite Meeting Call for Articles: Epistemic Justice and the AI Frontier

 

Theme: Epistemic Justice and the AI Frontier: African Libraries Driving Ethical Transformation

Organised by: IFLA Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Division Committee (SSA RDC)

Location: Dongeui University / Central Library of Pusan, Busan, Korea

Date: 7 August 2026

 

Overview

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes the global information landscape, African libraries must move from passive technology reception to proactive ethical leadership. This satellite meeting serves as an incubator for new ideas to prevent digital colonisation, repurpose AI to protect indigenous knowledge and promote epistemic equality. We aim to explore how African libraries can drive ethical transformation in an increasingly AI-driven world.

 

Possible Subtopics include but are not limited to:

AI & Indigenous Knowledge: Using AI to augment, rather than marginalise, local African heritage.

Critical Data Pedagogies: Navigating deep fakes and the “Fuzzy Record Problem” in an African context.

Ethical AI Frameworks: Developing regional policies for culturally diverse and rights-based AI usage.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Practical strategies for AI integration in Sub-Saharan African libraries.

The Busan Declaration: Contributions toward a landmark document on AI and Epistemic Justice

 

Proposal Submission Requirements

We invite articles for the Business meeting Workshop. Submissions are welcome in any official IFLA language. All proposals must include:

  1. Title of the presentation/session.
  2. Preferred Format (Live in Busan or Virtual).
  3. Presentation Abstract (approx. 300-500 words).
  4. Presenter Information: Name(s), professional affiliation, country, email address and a brief biographical note (max 100 words).

 

Please click here to Submit:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQ5luuV-qHLt6vQqnp_WSgLrTg29i1y9D2QvAw67yHj2yPrQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Lillian Letshabo: lletshabo@buan.ac.bw

Richard Seglo: richardseglo1@gmail.com

CC: momensah@ug.edu.gh

 

Important Dates

  • 15 May 2026: Abstract Submission Deadline (extended)
  • 31 May 2026: Notification of Acceptance
  • 1 July 2026: Final Paper Submission
  • 7 August 2026: Satellite Event (Busan, Korea)

 

Selection Criteria

Articles will be reviewed by a panel of experts based on their relevance to the theme of Epistemic Justice, originality, clarity and potential impact. We aim to provide a diverse programme reflecting various African perspectives.

Please Note:

  • Mandatory Templates: All submissions must use the 2026 WLIC Satellite Meeting Template.
  • Accessibility: Papers must pass the MS Word Accessibility Checker (Sans Serif fonts, Alt Text for images).
  • Expenses: All travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the presenters.
  • Dissemination: Some selected papers will be published in the IFLA Repository under a CC BY 4.0 license.

 

Contact Information

Questions should be submitted to: