Globally, it has become clear that mineral extraction, once heralded as the epitome of progress, is central to the Climate Crisis in the Anthropocene. In the latest volume of the African Dynamics Series, the contributors write histories and ethnographies of mining in southern Africa in which the human is decentred. 

This book is a rare history of how colonialism in southern Africa impacted cattle's subjective historical experiences. It explores major colonial impacts, including wagon labour, disease epidemics and veterinary infrastructure, but also the development of industrial slaughterhouses.

The Include Knowledge Platform, of which the ASCL co-hosts the Secretariat, and postdoctoral researcher Eric Cezne have won a grant from the International Development Research Centre for the project 'Making green hydrogen work in Africa: Addressing the skills gap and employment prospects for youth and women'.

On 4 December Emile van Rouveroy van Nieuwaal passed away. Van Rouveroy van Nieuwaal worked at the African Studies Centre from 1967 to 2002. Van Rouveroy’s main academic interests were African chieftaincy and customary law. He published books, articles and films about these topics.

PhD candidate Carlien Donkor has been awarded a scholarship under the Patrimonies Funding Initiative of the Gerda Henkel Foundation. She recieves the funding for her PhD project ‘Navigating the Dualities of Inclusive Development within Living Heritage Sites in Sub-Saharan Africa: Nzulezo, Ghana’.

A lively Stephen Ellis Debate took place on 4 December. Pascah Mungwini, Professor of Philosophy, gave a thoughtprovoking keynote - 'considering what we are witnessing around the world today, this topic could not have come at a better time' - followed by an engaging debate.