News & Events

The ASCL is looking, for the ‘digitalisation of African cultural heritage’ research project, for an Educational- and Research staff member (1.0 FTE). The project in question, DigiDogon, is part of the European Joint Program for Digitalisation of Cultural Heritage (JPICH), and aims at recording, digitalizing and preserving a vital part of the cultural heritage of the Dogon in Mali, in particular a song cycle inside the traditional Dogon funeral. Apply no later than 9 April. Read the full vacancy text.

How is 'governance' in Africa measured? The method used by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Index of African Governance is one, although it (too much) emphasizes the state’s role in ‘providing’ governance. Governance is more than that, Prof. Jan Abbink argues in the latest contibution to the ASCL Africanist Blog. It is not merely a question of technocratic application of measurable criteria, it is also an issue of public culture, respect for civic rights and duties, cultural freedom and a shared societal ethos. Read the blog!

The African Studies Centre Leiden is sad to report that Henk Meilink died on 21 March. An economist, Meilink worked at the African Studies Centre in Leiden as a senior researcher as from March 1977. He did research and consultancy work in Kenya, Zambia and other African countries. Among his publications is one article that would fit in well in the current discourse on migration: ‘Some economic interpretations of migration’ (in: African Perspectives, 1978). After his early retirement in 2005 Henk regularly visited the ASC. Our condolences go to Henk’s family and friends.

On Monday 14 May the book Entrepreneurship in Africa, edited by ASCL researchers Akinyinka Akinyoade, Ton Dietz and Chibuike Uche, will officially be launched. Chapters in the book contribute to an understanding of the theory, structure and practice of entrepreneurship in diverse African countries. Peter de Ruiter, Managing Director of the Netherlands-African Business Council NABC, and Nicky Pouw, University of Amsterdam, will review the book. You are very welcome!

The ASCL will organize a workshop during the 'Afrikadag' on 14 April in the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. The workshop will deal with 'the human and the animal in African Studies' and is based on the new ASCL collaborative research group 'Trans-species perspectives on African studies'. The workshop will be held in Dutch. The overall theme of Afrikadag this year is: 'Change we can believe in! The power of activism and citizens' initiatives in Africa'.