News & Events

Apply for the Master or Research Master in African Studies at Leiden University! The Research Master is unique in continental Europe for its interdisciplinary approach and the six-months fieldwork in Africa. The Master is an advanced area studies qualification that combines leading Africanist scholarship with practice-based learning.

Eric Cezne is a new postdoctoral researcher at the ASCL who works on the political geographies of energy transitions and decarbonisation in Africa. Cezne organised a two-day workshop at the ASCL and the port of Rotterdam, bringing together social science scholars working on hydrogen energy in the Global South.

The ASCL is very sad to report that Sabine Luning, associate professor at the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, passed away on 6 March 2025. Sabine was a close colleague and friend to many staff members at the ASCL. Jan-Bart Gewald wrote a personal reflection on her.

Former ASCL PhD candidate Tycho van der Hoog was recently interviewed by VPRO journalist Bram Vermeulen for the podcast Achter de Frontlinie.

In light of the recent advance of the M23 rebel movement in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the African Library has created a list of web resources on this conflict, containing online articles, blogs, infographics, podcasts and videos, most of which are freely accessible.

The journey of fieldwork research and thesis writing is a defining experience for master’s students. To enhance this process, the LDE Thesis Lab Seminar Week, held in Nairobi last January, provided an immersive and enriching environment for Kenyan and Dutch students embarking on their research journeys.

On 8 March 2025, we celebrate International Women's Day and highlight the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. On this occasion, we would like to call attention to the remarkable life of Regina Gelana Twala and the recent publication of her archive.