The formidable diversity of African societies is nothing other than historical. The variety of languages spoken across the continent, the proximity of multiple systems of political organization, types of economy, religious forms, techniques and arts tell us that this diversity is the fruit of a plurality of historical trajectories which, over the millennia, have brought together centralized kingdoms and pastoral peoples, urban societies and peasant, transhumant or caravan communities. African worlds are worth thinking about for their singularity - but also for everything they thwart : the denial of historicity, evolutionary models of history - and for everything they invite : collaborative research, cautious knowledge, the optimism of discoveries yet to be made.
François-Xavier Fauvelle's lectures are devoted to certain societies and political formations of ancient Africa, such as Christian and Muslim Ethiopia, the Ghâna and the Mâli, and the Swahili city-states. The documentation used consists of writings produced within these societies or in the Arab world, the most recent archaeological data and oral traditions.
The seminar, led by François-Xavier Fauvelle, takes the form of scientific meetings lasting several days, during which specialists from all over the world review the state of knowledge in a particular field.
In addition to his lecture, François-Xavier Fauvelle's research is part of international, multi-disciplinary collective programs, notably on the Christian rock site of Lalibela in Ethiopia, and on the trans-Saharan and trans-Mediterranean circulation and transformation of African gold in the Middle Ages.
The Chair hosts the research of Romain Mensan, independent geoarchaeologist and François-Xavier Fauvelle's main co-investigator on various sites from Morocco to Ethiopia ; Bernard Clist, independent archaeologist specializing in Central Africa ; nafisa Valieva, postdoctoral researcher at the Collège de France, philologist and historian specializing in Ethiopian texts in the Geez language ; and Hiluf Berhe Woldeyohannes, Ethiopian archaeologist hosted by the Collège de France and the PAUSE program, specializing in the Aksum civilization.
Doctoral students working with Prof. Fauvelle are attached to the TRACES Laboratory at the University of Toulouse-II-Jean-Jaurès.
