Conference Report : international Conference Arabic in Africa : historical and sociolinguistic perspectives, University of Bayreuth, 12-14 April 2023

This contribution is a report on the International Conference “Arabic in Africa: Historical and Sociolinguistic Perspectives”, which was organized by the Chair of Arabic Linguistics at the University of Bayreuth (Germany) from 12-14 April 2023. The conference convened scholars from twelve countries in Europe and Africa, with a total of more than thirty contributions, encompassing oral presentations, posters, and a concluding roundtable discussion. The conference provided a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted presence of Arabic in Africa, encompassing the Arabic language(s) and scripts across the African continent and a wide range of topics, perspectives, and disciplinary frameworks. The report delineates the general objective and ambit of the conference and presents the individual contributions according to their thematic focus.