News & Events

Two ASCL researchers have been appointed Visiting Professor abroad. Rahmane Idrissa has been appointed Visiting Professor at the Africa Institute (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates). Annachiara Raia will serve as a Visiting Professor at the University of Torino. 

Hendrik De Beer Groenewald has written a new blog post for the Boom2Dust project, a comparative study among three industrial mining centres in southern Africa between 1870 and 2020.

On 11 April 1942, the Beninese philosopher, politician and academic, Paulin Jidenu Hountondji was born. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of African philosophy. 

This month’s Library Highlight showcases 23 zines from the Swahili region of Lamu, Kenya, which the African Library recently acquired. The booklets were produced in January 2025 as part of the Lamu Maktaba Ya Sanaa Project, initiated by Karin Voogd. The recently acquired zines are currently exhibited at the African Studies Centre.

The ASCL calls for applications for its Visiting Fellowship Programme in 2026. Selected Fellows will be able to make use of our excellent library, collaborate and network with colleagues, and participate in our regular seminars. Applicants must indicate the Collaborative Research Group they want to be linked with. Application deadline: 7 May 2025.

Liesbeth Kanis has started as the new Head of the Library, Documentation and Information Department at the ASCL. Kanis has a broad experience in scholarly information that ranges across the globe, including in Africa and Asia. She aims to ensure that the library serves not only academics and the public, but also offers globally accessible, impactful resources.