In line with university measures, ASCL staff will work from home until further notice. They can be reached by email. The office is closed, but general questions can be sent to asc@asc.leidenuniv.nl. The library has reopened, reservation compulsory.
On 10 September, Dr William Ellis (University of the Western Cape) gave an intriguing webinar entitled 'Walking with herders: Animal and plant ontologies in Namaqualand'. Dr Ellis talked about his project with Nama pastoralists in the dry arid regions of the Northern Cape, South Africa, where he and his research group have been walking with herders and learning from them literally 'on the hoof'. As part of the webinar, Dr Ellis showed photos of herders and animals in their environment, taken by Clement Cupido. Take a look at these magnificent photos and read the stories about the herders.
Chika Ezeanya Esiobu, Erika Kraemer Mbula and Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni will be among the keynote speakers at the Africa Knows! conference. Dr Ezeanya Esiobu's work centres around the convinction that Africa’s indigenous knowledge is key to the continent’s advancement. Prof. Kraemer Mbula specialises in the analysis of innovation systems in connection to equitable development and inclusive development. And Prof. Ndlovu-Gatsheni has recently accepted the Chair of Epistemologies of the Global South with Emphasis on Africa at the University of Bayreuth in Germany.
Jan-Bart Gewald is stepping down as Director of the African Studies Centre Leiden. After three years of directing the ASCL, Jan-Bart will be concentrating on his academic research again. He will stay in function until 1 December 2020. More information about the selection procedure for the new director will follow soon.
The ASCL Library recently received two large donations: one from art historian Nicolaas Vergunst, and one from theologian Frans Verstraelen. The donation of Nicolaas Vergunst (born in Cape Town of emigrant Dutch parents) contains materials on art, history and literature. Among the materials is the clandestinely in South Africa published edition of The African Communist - disguised as Literary Gazette. The donation of Roman Catholic theologian Frans Verstraelen consists of several hundred books on religion and politics in Africa.
The Annual Report for 2019 is out now! In addition to an excellent list of publications by our researchers, you will find other highlights such as the well-visited conference 'The Future of the African City', the start of the Graduate Programme in African Studies, and the Stephen Ellis Annual Lecture by Emmanuel Akyeampong, Ellen Gurney Professor of History and of African and American Studies at Harvard University.
