New publications
New publications by ASCL staff and affiliates, and new books in our series, are frequently highlighted on this website. You may also use this RSS feed to keep informed. All recently added publications can be found in our database.
In the 19th century Abirè Goro, singer-prophet in Central Mali, gained a huge reputation that still reverberates among the Dogon. His main legacy, a cycle of songs called the baja ni, is still sung as part of the funeral rituals, a performance during the night lasting seven hours. Wouter van Beek and colleagues have for the first time transcribed, translated and put into print these songs. The book is in French and contains a CD.
On the occasion of the 'Africa 2020' year, the African Studies Centre Leiden has compiled a thematic map showing a number of developments in African countries during the last sixty years, relating to: year of independence, population growth, social indicators e.g. literacy rates, agglomerations, agriculture, and state stability-fragility. See the map and read the full text.