WELCOME

The Rhodes University Fine Art Department and the National Research Foundation (NRF) SARChI Chair programme in Geopolitics
and the Arts of Africa are hosting the 2026 South African Visual Arts Historians (SAVAH) conference.

The conference theme, Reaching Sideways, Creating Our Ways,
emphasises collaborative approaches, transgressive and transformative pedagogies,
as well as intra-Africa and south-south engagements and entanglements.

We bring together an exciting group of international scholars and artists for two days of creative workshops
and four days of conference presentations. Expanding the academic conference format, we are hosting a curated series of music performances and live art events, and artworks will be exhibited in various satellite venues.

Three internationally renowned scholars in the visual and performing arts will present Keynote Addresses:
Professor Nomusa Makhubu (South Africa), Professor Adepeju Layiwola (Nigeria/USA) and Professor Sonjah Stanley-Niaah (Jamaica).