Prof. Dr. Josias Semujang

Visited the IAS in July 2025

Prof. Dr. Josias Semujanga, Littératures de langue française, Faculty of Arts and Science, Université de Montréal. Josias Semujanga’s research focuses on the relationship between literature, linguistics, anthropology and history in the development of a transcultural poetics of the novel. His main areas of research are literary genre theory, the novel, social discourse and the history of criticism and genocide narratives. He has published numerous leading works on Francophone literatures and narratives from Africa and the Caribbean.

As part of a new research project on the novelist Tierno Monénembo, a writer of memory, he aims to highlight the way in which his novels address the relationship between narratives of memory (colonization, slavery, and postcolonial dictatorship) and the novelistic techniques of fiction. In a second phase, he plans to write scholarly articles and a monograph covering the entirety of the research conducted on this author. In addition to this research activity, he prepared a conference paper for the Sony Labou Tansi symposium organized by Ute Fendler and Gilbert Shang Ndi. Unfortunately, due to an unexpected emergency, hw was forced to leave before the conference and was unable to present his communication.

The visit to the Institute of African Studies (IAS) at the University of Bayreuth was both intellectually enriching and personally rewarding for Dr. Semujanga. He was impressed by the institute's strong interdisciplinary approach and its open and collegial academic culture, which encourages exchange and collaboration. He found the conversations with researchers from Africa and elsewhere stimulating and welcoming, making for a very productive visit. Beyond the university, the city of Bayreuth itself is charming and vibrant, according to him. He particularly enjoyed the lively music concerts and relaxed café culture, both of which contributed to the overall experience. The city is easy to navigate, with efficient public transportation, including reliable train and bus services, which make daily commutes a breeze. The combination of a supportive academic environment and a pleasant, well-connected city made his stay in Bayreuth memorable and inspiring.