Applications are invited for a three-year research position on the aftermath of slavery in the Eastern Congo during the twentieth century. The aim of the project is to examine the long aftermath of slavery in this region, including the life trajectories of former slaves and their descendants, the persistence or evanescence of social distinctions rooted in the heritage of slavery, and the role of slavery in the political imagination and public debate up to the present.

Depending on the successful candidate’s qualifications, research may be focused on the Maniema region around Kasongo and Kindu or on the region around Kisangani further north.

Candidates are expected to hold, or to expect to complete by September 2021, a PhD in history or a related social science discipline, and to have some previous experience doing research in Central Africa. The post’s holder will be affiliated with the History Department of Gent University and be part of a research group on the aftermath of slavery in East Africa, funded by the European Research Council, and currently comprising researchers working on Western Tanzania, Buganda, the Giriama area in Kenya, the Tanzania/Mozambique borderland and the role of slavery in religious discourses. The principal investigator is Felicitas Becker (see https://research.flw.ugent.be/en/feli.becker). There is no obligation to teach, but contributions to teaching can be arranged. Monthly pay amounts to a minimum of 2200 EUR, with generous health insurance.
The default start date is October 1, 2021, but there is some flexibility.

For fieldwork purposes, candidates will need a working knowledge of Lingala or Swahili, or failing that a demonstrable capacity for acquiring new languages quickly. To apply, please send a CV, transcripts of academic records, including evidence of language skills, a short (up to two pages) statement of how you would approach this research project, and a writing sample of up to 5000 words to slaveryaftermath@gmail.com, and arrange for two letters of reference to be sent to the same address.

The Gent History Department has over 100 members, with an established strength in global history. Besides the history department, the post holder will find interlocutors in the African Studies department, which comprises specialists in history, literature, linguistics and anthropology, the Conflict and Development research group, and the Global Studies centre. Gent is a vibrant and beautiful city of ca. 260,000 inhabitants, about 40,000 of them students. The official language is Flemish, but English is spoken almost universally, and research will be discussed in English. See https://visit.gent.be/en/HOME.

The deadline for applications is May 15. For further questions, please write to feli.becker@ugent.be or fmb26@cam.ac.uk.