Celebrating the Legacy of
AABD Conferences
Explore AABD's conference history through past editions, host universities, global locations, and themes that have shaped conversations around African business and development.
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| Year | Host Institution | Location | Dates | Conference Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |  | Tunis, Tunisia | May 19–23 | At the Crossroads of Local and Global Disruptions: Transforming Organizations for Africa's Future |
| 2025 |  | Johannesburg, South Africa | May 20–24 | Reshaping Africa's Sustainable Development through Digital Inclusion |
| 2024 |  | Washburn, USA | May 14–18 | Sustainable Development – Stakeholder Engagement and Participation |
| 2023 |  | London, UK | May 16–20 | Industry 4.0 Dynamic Global Business Environment, and Sustainable Development in Africa |
| 2022 |  | Accra, Ghana | May 17–21 | Sustainable Development Beyond Aid: The focus for Africa? |
| 2018 |  | Durban, South Africa | May 16–19 | Sustainable African Development and Self Reliance: Building Economic Bridges in a Multi-Polar World |
| 2017 |  | Atlanta, USA | May 17–20 | Accelerating Sustainable Development in Africa: The Roles of Businesses, Entrepreneurs, the Middle Class and Global Partners |
| 2016 |  | Arusha, Tanzania | May 11–14 | Good Governance and Business Policies towards Sustainable African Business and Development |
| 2015 |  | Nairobi, Kenya | May 13–16 | Towards Sustainable African Business Development: Integrating Formal and Informal Business |
| 2014 |  | Barbados | May 26–29 | The Development and Sustainability of African Business: The Role of the African Diaspora |
| 2013 |  | Accra, Ghana | May 14–18 | Integrating African Markets and Economies in a Changing Global Economy: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities |
| 2012 |  | El Jadida, Morocco | May 15–19 | African Business and Development in a Changing Global Political Economy: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities |
| 2011 |  | Edmonton, Canada | May 17–20 | Challenges in the Era of Globalization |
| 2010 |  | Lagos, Nigeria | May 18–23 | Moving Africa Toward Sustainable Growth and Technological Development |
| 2009 |  | Kampala, Uganda | May 19–23 | Repositioning African Business and Development for the 21st Century |
| 2008 |  | Gainesville, USA | May 20–24 | Global and Local Dynamics in African Business and Development |
| 2007 |  | London, UK | May 29 – June 2 | Building New Strategic Partnerships for Africa's Economic Development |
| 2006 | | Accra, Ghana | May 23–27 | African Development: What role for business? |
| 2005 |  | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | April 6–9 | Enhancing Competitiveness of African Nations and Enterprises |
| 2004 |  | Atlanta, USA | April 7–10 | Building bridges for African business and development |
| 2003 |  | London, UK | April 9–12 | African business and development in the global economy |
| 2002 |  | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | April 3–6 | Expanding the horizons of African business and development |
| 2001 |  | Philadelphia, USA | April 4–7 | Advancing Knowledge Development in African Business |
| 2000 | | Philadelphia, USA | April 11–14 | The Global Challenge of Africa Business and Economic Development in the New Millennium |
Host Institution
Location
Tunis, Tunisia
Conference Theme
At the Crossroads of Local and Global Disruptions: Transforming Organizations for Africa's Future
Host Institution
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
Conference Theme
Reshaping Africa's Sustainable Development through Digital Inclusion
Host Institution
Location
Washburn, USA
Conference Theme
Sustainable Development – Stakeholder Engagement and Participation
Host Institution
Location
London, UK
Conference Theme
Industry 4.0 Dynamic Global Business Environment, and Sustainable Development in Africa
Host Institution
Location
Accra, Ghana
Conference Theme
Sustainable Development Beyond Aid: The focus for Africa?
Host Institution
Location
Durban, South Africa
Conference Theme
Sustainable African Development and Self Reliance: Building Economic Bridges in a Multi-Polar World
Host Institution
Location
Atlanta, USA
Conference Theme
Accelerating Sustainable Development in Africa: The Roles of Businesses, Entrepreneurs, the Middle Class and Global Partners
Host Institution
Location
Arusha, Tanzania
Conference Theme
Good Governance and Business Policies towards Sustainable African Business and Development
Host Institution
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Conference Theme
Towards Sustainable African Business Development: Integrating Formal and Informal Business
Host Institution
Location
Barbados
Conference Theme
The Development and Sustainability of African Business: The Role of the African Diaspora
Host Institution
Location
Accra, Ghana
Conference Theme
Integrating African Markets and Economies in a Changing Global Economy: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities
Host Institution
Location
El Jadida, Morocco
Conference Theme
African Business and Development in a Changing Global Political Economy: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities
Host Institution
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Conference Theme
Challenges in the Era of Globalization
Host Institution
Location
Lagos, Nigeria
Conference Theme
Moving Africa Toward Sustainable Growth and Technological Development
Host Institution
Location
Kampala, Uganda
Conference Theme
Repositioning African Business and Development for the 21st Century
Host Institution
Location
Gainesville, USA
Conference Theme
Global and Local Dynamics in African Business and Development
Host Institution
Location
London, UK
Conference Theme
Building New Strategic Partnerships for Africa's Economic Development
Host Institution
Location
Accra, Ghana
Conference Theme
African Development: What role for business?
Host Institution
Location
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Conference Theme
Enhancing Competitiveness of African Nations and Enterprises
Host Institution
Location
Atlanta, USA
Conference Theme
Building bridges for African business and development
Host Institution
Location
London, UK
Conference Theme
African business and development in the global economy
Host Institution
Location
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Conference Theme
Expanding the horizons of African business and development
Host Institution
Location
Philadelphia, USA
Conference Theme
Advancing Knowledge Development in African Business
Host Institution
Location
Philadelphia, USA
Conference Theme
The Global Challenge of Africa Business and Economic Development in the New Millennium