News & Events

Two recent additions to our library, Teaching World Epics and Soundjata Keïta, La femme-buffle, provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the Sundiata epic, which tells the story of the founder of the Mali Empire in the early 13th century. These two acquisitions are the subject of this month's Library Highlight.

The ASCL and the Netherlands Defence Academy are constituting parts of the Knowledge Hub Africa, which seeks to develop a research agenda on ‘African Peace and Security’. The Knowledge Hub Africa aims to highlight the agency of governmental organisations, non-state armed groups, and citizens in matters of war and peace.

From 8 June to 31 July, the online Frugal Innovation Virtual Online International Collaborative Exchange (VOICE) brought together an international community with participants from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. They shared different perspectives on frugal innovation.

On 19 June 2026, the annual meeting of the ELIAS network took place in the African Library. Nearly 30 participants from African libraries, museums, archives and universities across Europe and Africa attended, making it an interactive and engaging event.

On 27 August 1943, the South African writer Sindiwe Magona was born. She grew up in Gugulethu, a Cape Town township, and worked as a domestic worker while completing her secondary education by correspondence. Magona later graduated from the University of South Africa. She writes autobiographies, novels, short stories and poems.

Due to unexpected maintenance work, the African Library will be closed on Thursday 20 August and Friday 21 August. The front desk will be available during these works. You are welcome to visit the Library again during the weekend and from Monday 24 August. We apologise for any inconvenience.