Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA)

08/10/2026

Introducing ASRSA’s Newly Elected Executive Committee!

The Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA) is pleased to announce its newly elected Executive Committee, following the 2026 ASRSA Congress.

We extend our warmest congratulations to the following members, who will contribute their expertise, leadership, and commitment to advancing the academic study of religion in Southern Africa.

President: Prof. Lee-Shae Scharnick Udemans
Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of the Western Cape (Left Front).

Deputy President: Dr Beverly Vencatsamy
University of KwaZulu-Natal (Left Back).

Editor-in-Chief, Journal for the Study of Religion: Dr. Ala Alhourani (Right Front).

Secretary: Dr Cherry Muslim
University of KwaZulu-Natal (Right Back).

Treasurer: Ms Aaishah Lombard
University of Johannesburg, (Second From Right, Back).

Student Representative: Christina Engela
PhD Candidate in Religion Studies, Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of the Western Cape (Middle Front).

General Executive Members:

Dr Tristán Kapp, Managing Editor, Journal for the Study of Religion. Department of Religion Studies, University of Pretoria, and Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, University of the Western Cape (Middle Left, Back).

Prof. Maniraj Sukdaven
Department of Religion Studies and Oxford (UP) Centre for Religion, Public Life, and Security in Africa, University of Pretoria (absent).

Dr Mujahid Osman
Department for the Study of Religions, University of the Western Cape (Middle-Right).

As ASRSA enters this new chapter, we look forward to strengthening scholarly collaboration, supporting emerging researchers, fostering critical and interdisciplinary engagement, and advancing the study of religion across Southern Africa and beyond.

We congratulate the newly elected Executive Committee and wish its members every success as they work towards strengthening the Association's academic community, institutional partnerships, and scholarly contributions.

Here's to another chapter of academic excellence, collegiality, and critical scholarship!

08/10/2026

Day 2 of the Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa Congress!

07/10/2026

22/07/2026

STATEMENT ON THE PROTECTION OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND PAN-AFRICAN SCHOLARSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom- ACAF has issued a statement expressing concern over recent public discourse in South Africa regarding the employment of foreign academics in public universities. While recognising the importance of expanding opportunities for South African scholars, the statement emphasises that academic appointments should be based on merit, competence and institutional needs rather than nationality. ACAF warns that narratives targeting foreign academics risk fuelling xenophobia, undermining academic freedom and weakening continental collaboration, and calls on policymakers, higher education institutions and regional bodies to uphold academic freedom, institutional autonomy and the free movement of scholars across Africa.

Read the full ACAF Statement here:
https://www.acafafrica.org/news-post.html =220f581e-ccf2-4a8e-9b6d-f6d2868d3262

20/07/2026

We are excited to invite you to participate in the ASRSA Annual Congress. Kindly submit your abstract.

09/07/2026

🔗 *Register:* [https://bit.ly/casr2026rsvp](https://bit.ly/casr2026rsvp)
📖 *Programme & Abstract Booklet:* [https://bit.ly/casr2026ap](https://bit.ly/casr2026ap)
💻 *MS Teams:* [https://bit.ly/casr2026t](https://bit.ly/casr2026t)

28/06/2026

IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING!!! 🙌🏼

This September, the University of Johannesburg, APK Campus is hosting the African debut of the award-winning documentary, “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture”.

The film explores how the word "homosexual" was introduced into the Bible in 1946 through a mistranslation and the profound impact this has had on LGBTQIA+ communities. The documentary has received international recognition, including the Audience Award at DOC NYC and Best of Fest at Palm Springs.

The film's director, Sharon "Rocky" Roggio, associate producer Josie Peres, and renowned human rights defender Dr Lady Phyll will be visiting South Africa from the USA and UK to attend the screening and panel discussion at the UJ Arts Centre on 23 September 2026.

RSVP below for your FREE entry to the screening for 23rd September 2026 17:30 - 21:00.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKb1GV6H1-I2WgVZaC5nLczyNT24JIfzpVBmrmDAIN7ma73w/viewform?pli=1&pli=1

#1946

21/04/2026

Enterprise podcasting made simple.

21/04/2026

New article published in the Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies, by Dr Thandi Gamedze affiliated with the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape!

In her article, titled: “A Critique of Christian Zionism in South Africa: An Analytical Mapping”. Dr Gamedze explores the crucial issue of Christian Zionism in South Africa and its roots in British settler-colonialism and U.S. Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Evangelical Christianity. Dr Gamedze, through her research, opens the door to a new vantage point on how Zionism functions in religious contexts within the Global South.

The Abstract:

“Israeli apartheid, occupation, and settler colonialism is sustained through a robust lattice, the material of which is both military and ideological. Christian Zionism has been recognised as arguably the most important aspect of the latter. While in many respects, the Global North — and the United States in particular — represents the most powerful stronghold of Christian Zionism, for numerous reasons, the necessity of understanding its manifestation within the Global South is becoming more recognised. South Africa, as a majority Christian context, and a country with a deeply contested historical and contemporary relationship with Israel, represents an interesting case in this regard. As of yet, scholarly work exploring Christian Zionism in South Africa is largely absent. This article situates itself in this gap through providing an initial broad lay of the land in terms of Christian Zionism's manifestation in South Africa through an initial scoping and mapping of

Read below! ⬇️
https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/10.3366/hlps.2026.0368

Israeli apartheid, occupation, and settler colonialism is sustained through a robust lattice, the material of which is both military and ideological. Christian Zionism has been recognised as arguably the most important aspect of the latter. While in many respects, the Global North — and the Unite....

15/04/2026

Dear colleagues, please participate in this wonderful study!

UCT African Feminist Studies Masters candidate Bhasani Mlambo is seeking participants for research on Black q***r people's experiences of religious belonging. If you are interested in participating, email [email protected] for more information.