Professor Charlotte Baker
Professor of French and Critical Disability StudiesCurrent Teaching
FREN100/101 Shaping Contemporary France
FREN233 Shaping Contemporary France: Moments and Movements
DELC320 Final Year Dissertation
DELC345 Francophone Voices: Literature and Film from sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Canada
DELC340 Autocrats, Dictators and Caudillos: Dictatorship and Representation in the 20th and 21st centuries
Profile
Charlotte Baker is Professor of French and Critical Disability Studies in the School of Global Affairs. She is currently Faculty Associate Dean for Engagement, Co-Lead of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Health Research Hub and Associate Director of Engagement for the Lancaster University Africa Research Hub. She was previously Principal of Lonsdale College and Faculty Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research.
Charlotte's research focuses on disability and stigma in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular interest in the genetic condition albinism. She has published widely on the socio-cultural realities of living with albinism, cultural representations of albinism, and human rights abuses against people with albinism.
Charlotte currently leads the AHRC GCRF Disability and Inclusion in Africa project (2020-2024) with Dr Elvis Imafidon (CI, SOAS, University of London), Prof. Emelda Ngufor Samba (University of Yaounde, Cameroon), and Prof. Kobus Moolman (University of the Western Cape, South Africa). DISABILITY & INCLUSION NETWORK AFRICA (dia-network.org) She previously led the Albinism in Africa project (Wellcome Trust, 2014-2016).
Charlotte is also interested in Francophone and Anglophone African literatures and has published on translation, the African dictator-novel and literary representations of disability.
Charlotte's collaboration with UN Independent Expert Ikponwosa Ero, Gary Foxcroft (Director of WHRIN), and other stakeholders led to the passing of UN Resolution 47/8 on the Elimination of Harmful Practices related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks in July 2021. Charlotte is a member of the UK National Working Group on Abuse linked to Accusations of Witchcraft and Spirit Possesssion, and Co-Director of The International Network Against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices (TINAAWAHP) International Network Against Witchcraft Accusation and Associated Harmful Practices (theinternationalnetwork.org)
She currently serves as Honorary Secretary of the Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies, an Editorial Board member for the Liverpool University Press Francophone Postcolonial Studies series, an Editorial Board member of the Bulletin of French Studies and a member of the Advisory Committee for the iNGO Standing Voice.
Research Grants
29 Nov 24: QR Policy Fund award for a project to map legislative approaches to addressing harmful practices related to witchcraft accusation
28 Oct 24: ISPF ODA funding for a project with Advantage Africa on gender based violence in Kenya
1 June 24: AHRC IAA funding for a FASS Social Enterprise in Residence scheme 2024-26
25 May 24: FASS Impact Fund for a schools resource on albinism in Sierra Leone
10 Feb 24: Yves Hervouet Fund for Anglo French Relations to host a Research Fellow in the Department of Languages and Cultures
1 Feb 24: Cross-University Catalyst Fund for Health-focused engagement activities (co-applicant with the Health@Lancaster leadership team)
20 Jan 24: Lancaster University ODA ISPF Fund for a project ‘Enhancing the Social and Educational Inclusion of Persons with Albinism in Sierra Leone’
20 Nov 23: Yves Hervouet Fund for Anglo French Relations to bring an invited speaker to the ‘Witchcraft and Human Rights, past, present, future: Implementing Resolution 47/8’ conference in September 2024
18 Nov 23: FASS Research Fund for a project on albinism in rural Malawi in partnership with the University of Livingstonia
June 2023: AHRC Follow-on Funding for Engagement and Impact 'Alternative Explanations for Disability: Inspiring patient-centered care among healthcare practitioners through the arts'
March 2023: FASS Policy Fund ‘Informing Policy for the Alternative Care of Children with Albinism Vulnerable to Attacks’
February 2023: FASS Research Fund application for a project on albinism in West Africa with Sierra Leone Albinism Association and Medical Assistance Sierra Leone
February 2023: Joy Welch Fund for a project on autism in Kenya with Advantage Africa and Kenyan Autistic Society
February 2023: AHRC Impact Acceleration Account - Stimulating positive action in response to the UN Resolution on the Elimination of Harmful Practices related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks
October 2022: ESRC Impact Acceleration Account award for a project on albinism in Sierra Leone with Sierra Leone Albinism Association and Medical Assistance Sierra Leone
January 2020: UKRI Quality Research - Strategic Priorities Fund (QR-SPF): Promoting Effective Policy Making to Prevent Harmful Practices related to Beliefs in Witchcraft
December 2019: AHRC Global Challenges Networking Grant: Disability and Inclusion in Africa
July 2019: FASS Impact Funding to further disseminate education pack on albinism in Tanzania
June 2019: ESRC Impact Acceleration Account Funding for fieldwork on albinism in Malawi
April 2019: Lancaster University Impact Funding for data collection towards a UN Resolution
Feb 2018: Lancaster University Impact Funding for a Photographic exhibition at the UN headquarters in Geneva
September 2017: Lancaster University Impact Funding to translate education pack on albinism into Swahili
Feb 2017: Global Challenges Kick Starter Funding for a project on Arts for Social Change in Africa
Feb 2017: Lancaster University Impact Funding to develop an education pack on albinism for Tanzania
Feb 2017: FASS Impact and Knowledge Exchange Grant to bring delegates to the UN Expert Meeting in September 2017
Aug 2016: Lancaster University Impact Funding to plan a UN Expert Meeting at the UN in Geneva Jan 2016: FASS Student Engagement Funding for “Translation Lancaster”, a postgraduate conference, masterclass, careers and networking eventSept 2015: FASS Impact and Knowledge Exchange Grant to collaborate with Standing Voice on a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Grant ApplicationNovember 2015: Wellcome Trust Medical Humanities International Small Grant, 'Changing Perceptions of Albinism in Africa'
May 2014: Knowledge Exchange Fellowship, Lancaster University, '21st Century Perspectives on Albinism in Africa'
Oct 2013: Yves Hervouet Fund for Anglo-French Relations (with Delphine Grass). 'Multilingual French Identities conference'
May 2013: Wellcome Trust Medical History and Humanities Small Grant - 'Exploring Interdisciplinary Approaches to Albinism'
May 2011: Society for French Studies (with Greg Kerr). Minorités en vue colloquium
January 2009: Lancaster University Small Grants Scheme, 'Albinism in Apartheid South Africa pilot study'.
Membership of Associations
Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies (President 2015-2018; Vice President 2018-) www.sfps.ac.uk
Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research (Co-Director 2015-2018) http://www.transculturalwriting.com
African Literature Association
African Studies Association UK
Royal African Society
Society for French Studies
Career Details
Charlotte Baker is Professor of French and Critical Disability Studies in the School of Global Affairs and Associate Dean for Engagement for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She was previously Deputy Head of the Department of Languages and Cultures (2018-2021), Principal of Lonsdale College from 2015-17 and Associate Dean for Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities from 2017-2019.
Charlotte joined the Department of Languages and Cultures at Lancaster University in 2007 having completed her doctoral studies at Nottingham University. After graduating with her BA degree, Charlotte worked for two years in Corporate Finance at the First National Bank of Chicago in London. During her doctoral studies, she worked as a lectrice at Universite Lyon III and taught French language and culture at the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham.
PhD Supervision Interests
Charlotte Baker is happy to discuss PhD proposals relating to: - Albinism - Critical Disability Studies - Disability in African contexts - African literatures (Francophone and Anglophone) - Intersections between the arts and human rights, disability and the body - Accusations of witchcraft, ritual attacks and harmful practices Charlotte particularly welcomes projects taking a comparative or interdisciplinary approach.
Selected Publications
Enduring Negativity: Representations of Albinism in the Fictional work of Didier Destremau, Patrick Grainville and Williams Sassine
Baker, C. 02/2011 Oxford : Peter Lang. 226 p. ISBN: 9783034301794.
Book
Expressions of the body : representations in African text and image.
Baker, C. 09/2009 Oxford : Peter Lang. 372 p. ISBN: 978-3-03911-546-4.
Book
Sassine 'Saint Monsieur Baly'.
Baker, C. 06/2010 Glasgow : Glasgow French and German Publications
Other
Necropolitical violence and post-independence Guinean literature
Baker, C. 1/11/2014 In: International Journal of Francophone Studies. 17, 3-4, p. 305-326. 22 p.
Journal article
All Publications
The impact of climate change on people with albinism in sub-Saharan Africa
02/06/2025 → 31/12/2025
Research
Review of extent and impact of legislation designed to address accusations of witchcraft and associated harmful practices around the world
02/12/2024 → 31/07/2025
Research
Enhancing the Educational and Social Inclusion of People with Albinism in Sierra Leone
05/02/2024 → 31/07/2024
Research
Alternative Explanations for Disability: Inspiring patient-centered care among healthcare practitioners through the arts
01/01/2024 → 31/12/2024
Research
Demystifying Albinism in Rural Malawi
01/01/2024 → 31/07/2024
Research
Understanding the Educational Experiences of Children with Autism in Kenya
21/07/2023 → 31/08/2024
Research
Informing Policy for the Alternative Care of Children with Albinism Vulnerable to Attacks
01/04/2023 → 01/07/2024
Research
Engaging albinism advocates in West Africa in regional collaboration on advocacy and research
01/03/2023 → 31/07/2023
Research
IAA: Stimulating positive action in response to the UN Resolution on the Elimination of Harmful Practices related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks (UN Resolution Impact)
01/03/2023 → 31/12/2024
Research
Implementing UN Resolution 47/8
02/01/2023 → 31/12/2024
Research
IAA - AHRC Impact Acceleration Account
01/04/2022 → 31/03/2026
Research
Alternative Explanations: Disability in African Contexts
01/02/2020 → 30/09/2022
Research
From Violence to Dignity: Albinism in Malawi
02/09/2019 → 30/09/2020
Research
The Francophone African dictator-novel
04/09/2017 → …
Research
Impact and Knowledge Exchange Grant, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Lancaster University
08/09/2015 → …
Other
Changing perceptions of albinism in Africa
05/01/2015 → 04/08/2015
Research
Lancaster University Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: Enhancing Contemporary Understandings of Albinism in sub-Saharan Africa
01/07/2014 → 31/08/2015
Other
Exploring interdisciplinary approaches to albinism in sub-Saharan Africa
01/09/2013 → 31/03/2014
Research
Multilingual Creativities
24/02/2013 → …
Other
The West African dictator novel
01/01/2013 → …
Other
International Conference on Albinism
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
DARCI Conference on Disability, Accessibility and Representation in the Creative Industries
Participation in conference - Academic
Invited Expert Panel Member
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Exhibition and symposium
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Witch Hunts Now: A Human Rights Catastrophe in Photographs
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Launch of new report on Legislative approaches to addressing harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
FHASS Research Culture Day
Participation in conference - Academic
'Alternative Explanations' project
Invited talk
Witch Hunts Now: A Human Rights Catastrophe in Photographs
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
International Forum on the Education, Globalisation and Intercultural Communication of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Duolingo Westminster Awards
Other
Launch of new resource for healthcare professionals in Nigeria
Other
The work of the International Network against Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Advantage Africa Presentation and Networking
Oral presentation
Disability and Witchcraft-related Harm: Global Perspectives
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Andrew Betts
Hosting Charity Organisations
Disability and Society (Journal)
Editorial activity
Disability and witchcraft-related harm
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Witch Hunts in the 21st Century public workshop
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Witchcraft and Human Rights, past, present, future: Implementing Resolution 47/8
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Witch Hunts Now: A Human Rights Catastrophe in Photographs
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Disability and Healthcare in South Africa: A collaborative writing workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Disability, the Arts and Healthcqre Equity
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
DeLC Postgraduate Study Day
Participation in conference - Academic
Centring Voices of Persons with Disabilities in Healthcare Systems
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
400 years on from the Lancashire witches
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Albinism Advocacy, Human Rights and the CRPD
Business Course/Training
Digging Deep@ Securing Grants for Africa-focused Research and Engagement
Symposium
Queer Medical Humanities Network: Public Research Showcase
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
International Day of Persons with Disability 2023 event
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Invisible Disabilities Forum
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Responses to A/HRC/RES/47/8 on the Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Understanding Stroke as a Disabling Condition: The Disability Inclusion Africa project
Invited talk
Inclusive Healthcare Spaces
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Talk to Shireshead MU
Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor
Side Meeting to the UN Human Rights Council
Participation in conference - Business/Professional
Wellbeing and health research in the arts, humanities and social sciences
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
International Online Conference on Harmful Practices Related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
International Online Conference on Harmful Practices Related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Biannual Conference of the Disability Inclusion Africa Network
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Disability and African Indigenous Thought
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Alternative Explanations: Disability Research in the Global South - Postgraduate webinar
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Alternative Explanations: Disability and Inclusion Africa
Invited talk
The Disability Inclusion Africa Project
Invited talk
Disability and Inclusion Africa
Invited talk
Public Health and ‘Witchcraft’ Beliefs
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
ESRC Festival of Social Science
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Public lecture: Albinism in Africa
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Campus in the City 2019
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Schools talk: Albinism in Africa
Invited talk
Witchcraft Beliefs and Human Rights: Past, Present and Future Perspectives
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Representations of Persons with Albinism and Awareness of Human Rights
Invited talk
Witchcraft and Human Rights: from Horror to Hope
Festival/Exhibition/Concert
Countering Dangerous Speech: Shifting discourses of albinism in Africa
Invited talk
Words that Kill
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Words that Kill
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
French Medico-Textual Cultures
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Translation Lancaster
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Writing for Liberty 2017
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
'Translated from Gikuyu by the Author': Ngugi wa Thiongo's Self-Translation of Wizard of the Crow'
Invited talk
Univ Leicester, University of Leicester
Visiting an external academic institution
First International Workshop on Albinism in sub-Saharan Africa
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Writing for Liberty
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Liverpool University Press (Publisher)
Editorial activity
Border Masculinities
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
21st Century Engagements
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Colloque « Williams Sassine n’est pas n’importe qui »
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Multilingual French Identities
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Multilingual French Identities
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Revisiting the First International Congress of Africanists in a Globalised World
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Researching Africa: Postgraduate Research Workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
20th and 21st Century French and Francophone Studies International Colloquium
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
International Journal of English and Literature (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Journal of Arts and Social Sciences (Journal)
Editorial activity
Bulletin of Francophone Postcolonial Studies (Journal)
Editorial activity
Postcolonial Bodies
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Bulletin of Francophone Postcolonial Studies (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Journal of African American Studies (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Capturing Witches: Histories, Stories, Images
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Minorités en vue colloquium
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
French Studies (Journal)
Publication peer-review
Round table
Invited talk
Africa: Cultural Translations
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Pre-film presentation of Amélie
Invited talk
Interview with Pap Ndiaye, author of La Condition Noire (2008)
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Outstanding Contribution to Engagement
Prize (including medals and awards)
University Staff Award for International Impact
Prize (including medals and awards)
Lancaster University Award for Research Impact - Highly Commended
Prize (including medals and awards)
- African Studies Group
- FASS Health Hub
- Multilingual Creativities
- Performing Identities
- Poetics of Resistance