Organizer Information

The AfrQueer Archives Project is a collaborative initiative led by Thsidy Kamogelo Ngoma (Gaborone), Nneoma Angela Okorie (Lagos), Noam Gramlich (Berlin), and Isabel Bredenbröker (Berlin/Bremen). The team combines expertise in community work, museum practice, queer studies, anthropology, and the arts. Partners include perfocraZe International Artist Residency (Kumasi), the Botswana National Museum (Gaborone), the University of Bremen, MARKK (Hamburg), Pitt Rivers Museum (Oxford), and AfricaMuseum (Tervuren). This project is supported by TheMuseumsLab CollabFund, funded by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation). The initiative aims to document and archive alternative gender expressions in African contexts, bridging historical and contemporary queer experiences.

Title & Description

Call for Contributors: A Digital Archive of Alternative Genders in Africa and African (n) Collections The project invites artists, researchers, cultural experts, heritage communities, and organizations to contribute to a digital archive that explores diverse gender identities and expressions across African histories and contemporary contexts. Contributors will engage with museum artefacts, objects, images, or video materials, connecting historical queer narratives with present-day LGBTQI+ experiences. Contributions may take the form of short essays, object analyses, artistic responses, interviews, or multimodal pieces. The archive emphasizes decolonial, queer, and trans* perspectives, challenging Western-centric assumptions about gender and sexuality. It provides a platform for storytelling, visibility, and dialogue, supporting both emerging and established contributors to explore themes of remembrance, community, ancestry, healing, spirituality, healthcare, body politics, and social inequalities. The project welcomes early-stage ideas, brainstorming, and creative experimentation, and allows for anonymous contributions where necessary.

Categories

  • Visual Arts (for artistic responses)
  • Writing & Literary Research (short essays, object analyses)
  • Digital & Technological Practices (archival digitization, multimedia contributions)
  • Hybrid & Interdisciplinary Practices (multimodal or experimental contributions)
  • Research (museum studies, anthropology, queer studies)

Eligibility

  • Open to international contributors, including artists, researchers, activists, and heritage communities
  • Individuals or small teams
  • Emerging and established practitioners
  • Contributors must submit materials in English
  • Optional anonymous contributions allowed due to safety concerns

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Monetary Benefits: One-time honorarium of €600 per accepted contribution
  • Professional Development: Guidance from project team members and access to collaborative networks
  • Community Engagement: Opportunities to connect with other contributors and participate in follow-up activities
  • Publication/Visibility: Contributions featured in a publicly accessible digital archive, launched December 2026
  • Creative Support: Assistance in transforming text, audio, visual, or mixed materials into archive-ready formats

Application Fee

None

Application Requirements

  • Short outline of proposed contribution (150–300 words)
  • Brief bio (50–100 words)
  • Optional sample material (text, audio, visual, or multimedia)
  • Only one submission per candidate
  • Contributors must be available for follow-up communication via email

How to Apply?

Send your submission via email to: afrqueerarchives@proton.me

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 19 February 2026
  • Response to Applicants: 28 February 2026
  • Submission of Final Contributions: September 2026
  • Archive Launch: December 2026

Location

Remote / Online

Additional Details

  • Contributors are encouraged to reflect on their positionality and knowledge limitations
  • Early ideas and drafts are welcome; final polish is not required
  • Project acknowledges sensitivity around queer topics in certain regions; anonymization strategies are supported
  • Follow-up collaborations and networking opportunities are planned post-launch

Website Link: https://themuseumslab.org/en/stories/collabfund-queer-archives