By hosting African Philosophy Month, the ASCL provides a platform for exchange, reflection, and critical debate, connecting scholars, students, and the wider public with African thinkers and their contributions to worldwide discussions. A host of activities will take place, from seminars to book launches to the Stephen Ellis Debate.

Grâce Ndjako, philosopher, author and translator, will explore the impact of African anti-colonial critique during the seminar on 6 November. She will explore the impact of African anti‑colonial critique, raising the question of whether Western universal principles like René Descartes’ radical doubt are truly applied globally.

On 9 October, as part of its Societal Day, the ASCL organised a panel discussion on the coverage of wars in Africa, particularly the wars in Sudan and DRC, and the little attention they receive in the media. The audience eagerly participated. Read the report!

The ASCL proudly presents its new Research Programme for 2025-2029: African Trajectories: Past Dependencies and New Directions. Building on its former programme Strident Africa, the new research agenda extends the recognition of Africa’s pivotal role in world affairs.

On 22 September, the Executive Board of Leiden University paid a visit to the African Studies Centre Leiden, during which staff from the ASCL and the African Library presented their research, teaching, societal and acquisition activities. 

In a special blog post, Baleseng Maeneche, winner of the Africa Thesis Award 2024, explores her thesis 'Media representations of male perpetrators of violence against women and children: A decolonial feminist analysis'. The visibility of violence in South African news media is painfully selective, she writes.