News & Events

The ASCL Annual Report for 2023 is out now! Read all about our publications, collaborations with African studies colleagues around the world, the INCLUDE Platform's new research agenda, and the ASCL Library achievements, including their partnership in the ERC project on African Literary Metadata (ALMEDA).

The ASCL welcomes you to the photo exhibition and book launch of Traces by Lidewyde Berckmoes and Marieke Maagdenberg. The launch will take place during the official opening of the Herta Mohr building of Leiden University, 8 October 2024, from 17.00 hrs.

On 12 September 1977, South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko died as a consequence of state violence following his arrest. Ideologically an African nationalist and African socialist, he was at the forefront of a grassroots anti-apartheid campaign known as the Black Consciousness Movement during the late 1960s and 1970s.

In 2024 the Asante commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Sagrenti War, and the Silver Jubilee of king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. During these events, Asante artefacts were returned from Western museums.  On this occasion the ASCL Library has updated its 2002 web dossier about the Asante Kingdom.

On 3 July the Leiden University Dialogue in Education Network (LUDIEN) was officially launched. The network welcomes all who are interested in dialogue as a tool for connection and improved student wellbeing in higher education. The dialogue method is moreover useful to talk about sensitive issues in class.

In the first week of September, at the start of the academic year, we welcomed our new (Res)MA students in African Studies and minor students in African Dynamics and Frugal Innovation. A total of 59 students enrolled in these four programmes. After introductions to the ASCL and their new study programme, the students are looking forward to starting their coursework.