| Abstract | María-José teaches Spanish Language and Literature at the University of Westminster and at the Cervantes Institute in London. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Alcalá in Spain. As a researcher, she is interested in literature, digital humanities, and cross-cultural studies from a decolonised perspective. Her presentation focused on Spanish-language literature that explores themes of diaspora and migration. It examined how space and displacement are represented in three novels: The Gurugu Pledge by Equatoguinean writer Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel, Mayimbo by Ángela Nzambi, also from Equatorial Guinea, and An Abandoned Plot by Moroccan writer Mohamed El Morabet. The presentation concluded with a brief screening of a documentary. It argues that decolonising the teaching of Spanish language and culture is a necessary step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable educational system—one that requires a multi-faceted approach. One way to achieve this is by incorporating African literature into the curriculum and examining how literary texts and the arts can (re)imagine new realities through a decolonised lens. By rethinking how languages and their cultures are taught, educators can empower students to become more culturally aware and empathetic global citizens. |
|---|