From 21-22 October 2024, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, in collaboration with the NRF Chair in International Constitutionalism, the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State, and the African Network for Constitutional Lawyers, hosted the highly anticipated Comparative Constitutionalism in Africa Conference. This event honoured the distinguished scholarship of Prof. Charles Manga Fombad, a globally respected expert in comparative constitutional law.
Held in a hybrid format at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus, the conference attracted over 100 in-person participants and numerous online attendees, including academics, human rights advocates, policy experts, and students.
Over two days, lively discussions unfolded on Prof. Fombad’s influential work and the broader developments within African constitutionalism.
Scholars and practitioners presented innovative perspectives, advancing critical dialogues on the continent’s legal and political landscape.
The conference offered attendees an in-depth exploration of constitutionalism, drawing on interdisciplinary insights from law, political science, and development studies. Reflecting on Prof. Fombad’s contributions, participants emphasized his role in shaping legal theory and practice in Africa, acknowledging his work’s impact on policy and judicial reform.
A forthcoming volume of selected essays will document the conference proceedings, promising to sustain these vital conversations and contribute to the expanding literature on African constitutionalism. The African Network of Constitutional Lawyers expresses gratitude to all contributors and participants for making this celebration of Prof. Fombad’s scholarship a meaningful success.
