Renzo Baas

Dr. Renzo Baas is currently a Research Fellow at the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies (University of Bayreuth), focusing on speculative spatialities and Afrofuturism. Previously, he served as a wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (research associate) at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2020-2022) and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2018-2020). His academic career began with a PhD from the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies in 2017.

• Education:
• PhD in African Studies, University of Bayreuth (2017)
• Postdoctoral Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2018-2020)

His research explores the intersection of spatial theory with speculative narratives, particularly in African and Afro-diasporic contexts. Key themes include memorial cultures, postcolonialism, and the role of speculative fiction in resisting anti-Blackness. He teaches courses ranging from classical literature (e.g., Shakespeare, Moby Dick) to contemporary topics like Afrofuturism and Black Panther.

His ongoing project, Speculative Spatialities, interrogates how spatial narratives function as tools of resistance against systemic oppression. Recent publications include Fictioning Namibia as a Space of Desire (2019) and articles analyzing Namibian memorial practices and African science fiction.

No formal grants or advising roles are explicitly documented in the provided texts.