News & Events

The ASCL is deeply saddened to report that one of its senior researchers, Dr Marcel Rutten, passed away in his home in Nijmegen on the morning of 12 January 2020. Marcel, born on 1 December 1957, was a highly respected and well-liked colleague who will be particularly remembered for his solid research on land, access to land and land rights in Kenya. Throughout his career Marcel’s work focused on pastoralists and everything associated with pastoralism in Kenya: land, water, people, cattle and the state. His love of Kenya, integrity and insistence on working on an equal basis with his Kenyan partners, will be remembered both in Kenya as well as in the Netherlands.

One year ago Harry Wels wrote a New Year’s blog in which he wondered if 2019 could become the year of ‘the decentring of the human in African Studies’. If the failed UN climate conference in Madrid, last December, can be seen as some sort of answer to this question, one could conclude that humans still feel to be standing very firm on their pedestal of superiority. However, two recent developments give Wels reason for optimism, even though not necessarily hope.

PhD candidate Tycho van der Hoog was interviewed for the Leiden University podcast series 'Enkeltje Wetenschap' about his book on the history of Namibian beer. He explains how beer was used to suppress the black population in Namibia - that was a mandate of South Africa until 1990. The podcast is in Dutch.

Jan Abbink, Professor of Politics and Governance in Africa, was interviewed by Nieuwsweekend on Radio 1 about the fact that 17 African countries became independent 60 years ago. What has changed, what has persisted? He also talks about the activities planned for the special 'Africa 2020' year.