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Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the call for papers for “Connecting Codes: AI, Digital Humanities, and the Future of Information,” a conference taking place at the Kenya National Library Service in Nairobi, June 16–18.

Early‑career scholars and practitioners—as well as professionals working in libraries, archives, museums, and related information and cultural institutions—are especially encouraged to participate.

Both in‑person and remote presentations are welcome.

The proposal deadline is March 15. Please see below for further details. Brian Rosenblum Director, Institute for Globally Engaged Librarianship University of Kansas Libraries brianrosenblum@ku.edumailto:brianrosenblum@ku.edu https://lib.ku.edu/igel

Call for Papers

Connecting Codes: AI, Digital Humanities, and the Future of Information Venue: Maktaba Kuu, Kenya National Library Service, Nairobi Dates: 16–18 June 2026

Organizers

* Kenya National Library Servicehttps://www.knls.ac.ke/ * Technical University of Kenya, School of Graduate & Advanced Studieshttps://sgas.tukenya.ac.ke/ * University of Kansas Librarieshttps://lib.ku.edu/

Websites

* Technical University of Kenya: https://sgas.tukenya.ac.ke/conference * University of Kansas Libraries, Institute for Globally Engaged Librarianship: https://lib.ku.edu/igel/connecting-codes

Conference Overview

Connecting Codes brings together scholars, librarians, heritage professionals, technologists, and students to explore the evolving relationships between artificial intelligence, digital humanities, and information institutions, with a particular emphasis on African contexts and perspectives. The conference title reflects the work of connecting multiple kinds of “codes”: technical systems such as software, data, and AI models; cultural and linguistic knowledge systems; and the institutional, ethical, and professional frameworks through which information is created, interpreted, preserved, and shared.

The conference builds on a growing body of Africa-centered digital humanities and library work, including earlier convenings at the Technical University of Kenya and the Kenya National Library Service, as well as digital humanities initiatives at the University of Kansashttps://africandh.ku.edu/ that foreground Africa-based scholarship and diasporic perspectives. Important Dates

* Abstract submission deadline: March 15, 2026 * Notification of acceptance: April 1, 2026 * Registration opens: April 15, 2026 * Draft materials due (optional): May 15, 2026 * Conference: June 16-18, 2026 * Final submissions for proceedings (optional): July 15, 2026

We welcome regional and international contributions that engage meaningfully with African knowledge systems, languages, infrastructures, and communities. While AI is a central lens, Connecting Codes also invites broader digital humanities and information-centered approaches that attend to context, equity, sustainability, and human expertise.

Early-career scholars and practitioners, as well as professionals working in libraries, archives, museums, and related information and cultural institutions, are especially encouraged to participate.

In-person and remote presentations are welcome. Conference Themes 1. Human–AI Collaboration and the Future of Knowledge Work

This area explores how AI technologies intersect with human expertise in research, description, interpretation, and authorship. We welcome critical and practice-based perspectives on human–AI collaboration, including how workflows, responsibilities, scholarly labor, and professional roles are evolving within libraries, cultural institutions, and research environments in African and global contexts.

2. Methods and Practices in Digital Humanities and Information Studies

This area invites contributions on digital humanities methods broadly conceived, including computational analysis, data modeling, metadata creation, visualization, and platform development. Submissions may also address non-computational and hybrid approaches, with particular attention to multilingual, low-resource, and context-specific practices in African and diasporic settings.

3. Equity, Ethics, and Responsibility in Digital and AI-Enabled Scholarship

This area focuses on ethical, legal, and social questions surrounding AI and digital scholarship, including bias, accountability, intellectual property, data governance, and consent. We welcome work that critically examines responsible, inclusive, and culturally appropriate approaches to technology, particularly in relation to African communities, collections, and knowledge traditions.

4. Libraries, Archives, Museums, and Digital Heritage

This area highlights libraries, archives, museums, and other memory institutions as active sites of digital humanities practice, stewardship, and innovation. Topics may include digitization, preservation, access, community-engaged heritage work, and the use—or critique—of AI and digital tools in managing, describing, and interpreting cultural heritage.

5. Digital Pedagogy: Teaching, Learning, and Capacity Building

This area focuses on education, training, and professional development related to digital humanities and AI in academic, cultural, and community settings. Submissions may address curriculum design, skills development, mentorship, institutional capacity building, and strategies for supporting students and early-career professionals. Submission of Abstracts Submit your proposal via the online form at the Technical University of Kenya website: https://sgas.tukenya.ac.ke/conference Abstracts should articulate the purpose and significance of your work. Depending on your format and approach, this might include research questions, theoretical frameworks, methodologies, key findings, practical applications, or reflective insights.

For enquires please contact

Tom Kwanya Email: tkwanya@tukenya.ac.kemailto:tkwanya@tukenya.ac.ke

Brian Rosenblum Email: brianrosenblum@ku.edumailto:brianrosenblum@ku.edu