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• Historical Linguistics
• Comparative Linguistics
• Language Typology
• +6 more

Agnes Korn is a linguist affiliated with the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Center for Research on the Iranian World (CeRMI). Her work spans historical linguistics, comparative linguistics, and typology, with a focus on Iranian languages, particularly Baluchi and Bashkardi. PhD in Comparative Linguistics (Indo-European Studies), Frankfurt am Main (2003) HDR (Habilitation) in Comparative Linguistics, Frankfurt am Main (2010) Master’s in Indo-European Studies, University of Vienna (1996) Her research explores the historical grammar of Persian, dialectological variation in Western Iran, and the documentation of minority Iranian languages. She has supervised theses through INALCO and contributed to projects on Bashkardi and Balochi dialects. Recent publications examine word order in Bashkardi (2025), grammaticalization in Iranian (2020), and isoglosses in Iranian classification (2019). She has received awards for excellence in Iranian studies and research cooperation. European Award of Iranian Studies (2007) Award for Research Cooperation and High Excellence in Science (2008) Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall and Jesus College, Cambridge (2015)

• History of the Middle East
• Slavery and Emancipation
• African Diaspora Studies
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Behnaz Mirzai is a Full Professor of History at Brock University, Canada, and currently a Senior Guest Researcher at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (June 2024–September 2025). Her research focuses on the history of the Middle East, particularly African slave communities, their cultural identity, and religious practices in Iran and the Indian Ocean region. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran, producing influential documentaries like Afro-Iranian Lives and The African-Baluchi Trance Dance , the latter winning recognition at the Zanzibar International Film Festival. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in History from York University (2004) and a career marked by groundbreaking publications, including A History of Slavery and Emancipation in Iran, 1800–1929 , which was a finalist for the Canadian Historical Association’s Wallace K. Ferguson Prize. Her current project explores the cultural identity of Saharan and Indian Ocean communities. Mirzai’s work bridges historical and anthropological methodologies, examining themes like slavery’s legacy, ethnic identity transformation, and the intersection of religion and culture. She has authored/co-edited multiple books and peer-reviewed articles, contributing significantly to diaspora studies and Middle Eastern history. Her awards include film festival accolades and scholarly recognitions, reflecting her interdisciplinary impact. Mirzai’s research also extends to documentary filmmaking as a tool for cultural preservation and academic outreach, highlighting marginalized voices in global history.

Behnaz MirzaiView profile

Professor

• Middle Eastern History
• Slavery and Emancipation
• African Diaspora in Asia
• +7 more

Behnaz Mirzai is a Professor in the Department of History at Brock University, Faculty of Humanities, where she teaches courses on Middle Eastern history, gender, minorities, and slavery. She holds a Ph.D. from York University and is a leading scholar on the history of slavery and African-descended communities in Iran and the Indian Ocean region. Ph.D., York University The Stevenson Scholar in African Studies, York University (1999-2000) Her research focuses on the social, cultural, and religious dimensions of slavery and emancipation in modern Iran, with particular attention to Afro-Iranian communities, Baluchi identity, and spirit-possession cults. She employs interdisciplinary methods combining historical and anthropological fieldwork, including documentary filmmaking and photography exhibitions. Her publications reveal a strong trend in uncovering marginalized histories, especially the African diaspora in Asia and the Persian Gulf. Her work bridges Middle Eastern studies, African diaspora studies, and global slavery studies, emphasizing identity reconstruction, cultural resilience, and historical recognition. Finalist, 2018 Canadian Historical Association Wallace K. Ferguson Prize Special Mention, Zanzibar International Film Festival (2007) SSHRC Connection Grants (2014, 2012) SSHRC Standard Research Grant (2010–2013) Brock University Advancement Fund (2008) Brock SSHRC Institutional Grants (2011, 2007) Brock Humanities Research Institute Grants (2011, 2007) She has supervised academic projects and received multiple grants supporting research on Iranian borderlands, Baluchi identity, and people of African descent. Her work is closely tied to the UNESCO Slave Route project, where she serves as a coordinator and committee member. She has also led workshops and conferences promoting recognition and equity for marginalized communities. Behnaz Mirzai has produced two documentary films— Afro-Iranian Lives and The African-Baluchi Trance Dance —and curated a photography exhibition titled Eyes in the Desert , contributing to public engagement and interdisciplinary scholarship.

• Historical linguistics
• Comparative linguistics
• Language typology
• +5 more

Agnes KORN is a HDR Research Officer at the CNRS (UMR 8041 Center for Research on the Iranian World – CeRMI), focusing on historical and comparative linguistics, language typology, and Iranian languages. She has contributed to projects like TransPerse and Perspred , and her work includes documenting minority Iranian languages such as Baluchi and Bashkardi. Master's degree in linguistics (Indo-European studies), Vienna (1996) Doctorate in comparative linguistics, Frankfurt s/M (2003) HDR in comparative linguistics, Frankfurt s/M (2010) Qualified for university professorships in language sciences and several languages (2014) Her research spans historical grammar of Persian, typological studies of Iranian languages, and the preservation of linguistic diversity. Projects include involvement with Abstracta Iranica , CartOrient , and the EpiPOM – CollEx-Persée initiative on medieval Near Eastern epigraphy. European Award of Iranian Studies (2007) Minerva Foundation Award (2008) Cambridge Visiting Fellowships (2015) KORN has supervised doctoral theses via the INALCO doctoral school and collaborated with institutions such as the University of Cambridge. Her affiliations include the Paris Linguistics Society, Societas Iranologica Europaea, and Gesellschaft für bedrohte Sprachen.

• Ethnomusicology
• Sufi Music Traditions
• Central Asian Music
• +3 more

Jean During is a distinguished Research Director affiliated with Lesc-UMR 7186 at MSH Mondes (Maison des Sciences de l'Homme Mondes) in Nanterre, France. His career spans decades of immersive fieldwork, notably 17 years in Iran and Uzbekistan, where he studied under master musicians and documented vanishing traditions. As an ethnomusicologist, he bridges academic scholarship and cultural preservation, producing over 60 CDs of Central Asian music. His research explores: Sufi musical rituals (samā') and their metaphysical foundations Shamanic healing practices in Baluchistan and Tajikistan Modal systems (Radif, Maqam) across Persian, Azeri, and Uyghur traditions Aesthetic evolution and cultural identity in post-Soviet Central Asia Cross-cultural dialogues between musical spirituality and Islamic philosophy Publications reveal a focus on: Ecstatic states induced by ritual soundscapes Timbre as cultural epistemology Historical transmission of repertoires Impacts of modernization on oral traditions His recent books (2023-2019) continue interrogating tradition through Sufi mysticism, Persian classical music, and intercultural aesthetics. Jean During maintains active scholarly engagement through international conferences, CD productions preserving endangered traditions (e.g., Baluchi epic, Uzbek spiritual chants), and collaborations with institutions like the Mahoor Institute in Tehran. Contact: jeanduring@yahoo.com.

• History of Medieval Art
• Byzantine Art
• Eastern Christian Art
• +3 more

Maria Rosaria Marchionibus is a Researcher in History of Medieval Art at the University of Naples L'Orientale, Department of Asia, Africa and Mediterranean. She teaches History of Medieval Art and History of Eastern Christian Art across multiple programs including Archaeology: Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean, Comparative Languages and Cultures, and Humanities and Digital Technologies. Her academic career spans over 15 years at the institution, transitioning from contract professor positions to her current fixed-term research role. Her research focuses on Byzantine and medieval Mediterranean art, with particular expertise in iconography, religious art, and cultural exchange between East and West. Dr. Marchionibus has published extensively on topics including Byzantine influence in Southern Italy, medieval icon painting, monastic architecture, and maritime representation in medieval art. Her recent work examines the interplay between religious imagery and political power, as well as the transmission of artistic techniques across the Mediterranean. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the cultural and artistic connections between Byzantium and Southern Italy, particularly in Apulia and Campania. Her scholarship demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches combining art historical analysis with archaeological evidence and digital methodologies. Key themes include the role of religious imagery in cultural identity formation, the adaptation of Byzantine artistic traditions in Western contexts, and the preservation of medieval artistic heritage. Dr. Marchionibus actively contributes to academic discourse through her teaching and research, with particular attention to digital methodologies for cultural heritage. Her courses integrate traditional art historical approaches with contemporary digital tools for documentation and analysis of historical artworks. She has supervised numerous student projects focusing on the application of digital technologies to medieval art studies.