On 2 June, Mayke Kaag gave a keynote speech at the UN Headquarters in New York about the importance of trust and trust-making in African politics for security sector reform. The other keynote speaker was renowned economist Paul Collier. Both keynotes can now be watched online.

The ASCL has a vibrant Visiting Fellowship Programme. Selected fellows collaborate and network with colleagues, make use of our excellent library, and give a seminar. Learn more about our current visiting fellows: Girma Negash, Gloria Okeke, and Aurore Vermylen.

On 28 May 2025 African literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o passed away at the age of 87. ASCL senior researcher Annachiara Raia wrote a tribute in his honour, highlighting his fight as, in his own words, 'a language warrior' for African-language literatures.

We are excited that a large delegation of the African Studies Centre Leiden and the wider Leiden University will participate in the 10th European Conference on African Studies (ECAS). ECAS will take place from 25 to 28 June in Prague.

The ASCL hosted the highly inspiring two-day workshop Ruptures and Riches: A Multidisciplinary Exploration of African Mineral Resource Extraction on 20 and 21 March. The workshop was organised by African Studies Research Master students.

The jury of the Africa Thesis Award is delighted to announce that the 2024 prize has been awarded to Baleseng Maeneche, a graduate of the University of the Western Cape, for her thesis 'Media Representations of Male Perpetrators of Violence against Women and Children: A Decolonial Feminist Analysis'.