Call for PapersCaliban Speaks: International Conference on Recentering Indigenous Thought in the Age of Decolonialism and Technology

April 21–22, 2026 | International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)

1. Conference Rationale

In the contemporary intellectual landscape, postcolonial theory has illuminated important questions of empire, identity, and resistance. Yet, its limits are increasingly visible: while interrogating colonial legacies, it has too often re-centered Eurocentric epistemologies and sidelined Indigenous thought.

This conference, hosted by the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) — an institution uniquely positioned with its multi-epistemic structure, multicultural environment, and rich historical archive of texts dating back to the 14th century — seeks to advance the conversation through pluriversal hermeneutics. Rather than reinforcing hierarchies of knowledge, the event envisions a plateau of transversal engagements, where Western and non-Western epistemologies meet in dialogue, critique, and mutual transformation.

Caliban Speaks insists that decoloniality must not collapse into abstract theory. It must remain a praxis-oriented, creative, and activist endeavor that resonates beyond the academy. The conference will integrate scholarship, storytelling, art, digital practices, and activism, making it a unique space to rethink decolonial futures and to chart concrete strategies for thought and practice.

2. Themes & Sub-Themes

We welcome papers, panels, creative works, and workshops engaging (but not limited to) the following themes:

A. Postcolonial Theory & Decolonial Critique

• Postcolonialism’s Limits

• Postcolonial and Decolonial Futures

• Indigenous Theorisation

• Margins and Intersectional Voices

B. Curriculum & Literary Studies

• Decolonial Curricula

• Uncanonising the Canon

• Indigenous Thought and Worldmaking

• Curriculum as Resistance

C. Language, Translation & Erasure

• Language Politics

• Undoing Erasure

• Linguistics in the Digital Wild

D. Storytelling, Art & Cultural Revival

• Resurgent Literatures

• Creative Interventions

• Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narratives

• Climate Narratives

E. Digital Worlds & Technologies

• Decolonial Storytelling in the Digital World

• Digital Communication

• Technologies of Colonisation and Liberation

• Technology as Epistemic Force

• AI, Language, and Storytelling

• Digital Literature and Cybernetics

• Algorithms of Oppression

F. Activism & Resistance

• Global Protest Movements and Narrative Resistance

• Digital Activism

• Gamifying Resistance

• Decolonising the Human Body

• Voices Across Boundaries

G. Workshops & Creative Showcases

• Digital Tools for Literary Analysis and AI in Language Teaching

• Creative Showcases: AI-Generated Works, Digital Storytellers, Artists

3. Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts: 250–300 words

• Biographical Note: 100 words (including institutional affiliation)

• Formats Accepted: Individual papers, panels (3–4 participants), workshops, creative showcases, and roundtables.

• Deadline for Abstract Submission: 10th March’26

• Notification of Acceptance: 20th March’26

Submissions should be sent to: calibanspeaks@iiu.edu.pkCaliban Speaks: Recentering Indigenous Thought in the Age of Decolonialism & Technology, IIUI