The South African Society for Research in Music (SASRIM) invites contributions for its 2026 conference, which will be hosted by University of the Free State, Odeion School of Music. We envisage a hybrid event that will allow both in-person and online presentations. SASRIM welcomes contributions on a wide range of topics in music research, including those that explore disciplinary intersections, and the convergences and divergences between performance and/as research.
All proposals will be assessed individually, without privileging particular subjects or methodologies. SASRIM invites proposals in a wide range of formats. These include:
- papers (20 minutes presentation + 10 minutes discussion)
- panels (45 minutes presentation + 15 minutes discussion)
- performances and/or demonstrations (20 minutes + 10 minutes discussion or 45 minutes + 15 minutes discussion))
- workshops (20 – 60 minutes)
- exhibitions, film screenings and poster presentations
- alternative presentations/formats
Special interest: Multidisciplinarity in (South) African Music Studies
Twenty years ago, the former Musicological Society of South Africa and the Symposium on Ethnomusicology amalgamated under the South African Society for Research in Music. This decision was partly taken as an overt move towards dismantling the disciplinary silos within music studies. We are pleased to offer a special interest call alongside the open conference call. Our special interest concerns multidisciplinarity in South African and African music studies.
- Looking back on the past two decades, has South African music research successfully embraced multidisciplinary approaches?
- How does multidisciplinarity intersect with broader calls for decolonisation within University syllabi and structures?
- Has the shift towards New Musicology in South Africa hindered our ability to function in a multidisciplinary way?
- In times of growing uncertainty and closure of music departments, does multidisciplinarity offer a potential future for scholarship on South African and African music?
- Does multidisciplinarity offer opportunities not only for collaboration among traditional academic disciplines, but also allow for the weakening of the boundaries between practice and research?
- How does multidisciplinarity provide our students with broader options in their post-university lives?
Proposal Submission
All proposals must be submitted via the following Google Forms link: https://forms.gle/smbA3JJJCnkrAiuf6
Please prepare the following for proposals:
- title of presentation
- an abstract or summary with title (not exceeding 2000 characters with spaces)
- biographical note (not exceeding 1000 characters with spaces)
- e-mail address and phone number of the contributor
- audio-visual or display requirements
- preference for presenting in-person or online
- any additional requirements (instruments, equipment etc.) (we will endeavour reasonably to accommodate all requirements)
Please read through the above guidelines carefully. Proposals that do not adhere to these guidelines will not be considered.
Only proposals submitted through Google Forms by 23.59 (SAST) on 5 April 2026 will be considered. Proposals submitted directly to abstracts@sasrim.ac.za or any other SASRIM email address will not be considered. No late submissions will be considered and an extended submission period beyond this closing date is not envisaged.
Queries may be sent to abstracts@sasrim.ac.za. The programme committee expects to contact all applicants with a final decision by 5 May 2026.
Programme Committee: William Fourie (convenor, Rhodes University), Marc Röntsch (University of the Free State), Inge Engelbrecht (University of Fort Hare), Joseph Kunnuji (University of the Free State)