News & Events

The ASC is delighted that Egosha E. Osaghae, Professor of Comparative Politics and Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria, will give a public lecture on 20 March: 'Globalised Conflict Situations: Nigeria’s Boko Haram in Perspective'. In his lecture, Prof. Osaghae will analyse ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria as a product of the intersection between local/domestic variables and global forces. This lecture is a co-production of the African Studies Centre Leiden, LUF (Leiden University Fund), ICCT (International Centre for Counter-Terrorism), Connecting in Times of Duress (Leiden University) and Grounding Land Governance.

ASC senior researcher Benjamin Soares has a new co-edited volume out: New Media and Religious Transformations in Africa. The book analyzes Africa's rapidly evolving religious media scene. Following political liberalization, media deregulation and the proliferation of new media technologies, many African religious leaders and activists have appropriated such media to strengthen and expand their communities and gain public recognition. Media have also been used to marginalize and restrict the activities of other groups, which has sometimes led to tension, conflict, and even violence.

Rapid economic growth in Africa over the past two decades has provoked intense public and academic debate about the nature and sustainability of Africa’s economic transition. Is this simply another commodity boom, or is current growth rooted in a more profound transformation of the African social and political fabric? The programme committee of the 10th 'New Frontiers in African Economic History Workshop' (30-31 October, Wageningen University) launches a broad call for papers in the field of African Economic History. Morten Jerven ('Poor Numbers') and the ASC's Chibuike Uche are among the committee's members.

Muhammadu Buhari has won the presidential elections in Nigeria. What's to be expected of his new government in terms of the economy? On 22 April, the ASC organizes a Country Meeting about Nigeria with the theme: 'The incoming government and its implication for Nigeria’s growth and economic transformation 2015-2019'. Keynote speeches will be given by Dr David Ehrhardt (assistant Professor in International Development, Leiden University College) and Dr Dele Olowu (consultant on governance and capacity development). You may also want to read the new web article on the election results by ASC researcher Akinyinka Akinyoade.

Recent years have seen a sharp increase in speculations that China’s development trajectory may provide a model for African states. This seminar by Elsje Fourie (University of Maastricht) on 19 February examines the ideational influence of China’s development on developing country elites. Elites in two country cases - Ethiopia and Kenya - indeed look outside their borders for exemplars of development. China, however, is viewed as only one source of potential ‘lessons’.

Museums in Western countries that possess cultural objects acquired during the European colonial era, try to ‘decolonise’ their practices and relations with museums in former colonies. Yet they have difficulty to seriously rethink the distribution of these objects. In the 1970s, Indonesia and the Netherlands, and Belgium and Zaire agreed upon new cultural relations, including the transfer of a number of museum items. At present, Nigeria is in discussion with some Western museums about Benin art treasures seized by British soldiers in 1897. In this ASC seminar on 12 March, PhD researcher Jos van Beurden (VU University) will analyse the agreements of the 1970s and the ongoing process between Nigeria and Europe.

Asian Tigers, African Lions: Comparing the Development Performance of Southeast Asia and Africa, published by Brill in 2013 and coordinated by the African Studies Centre and the KITLV in Leiden, has won a Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award 2014! Asian Tigers, African Lions contains contributions by scholars and (former) diplomats comparing the performance of development of four pairs of countries in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The review that appeared in Choice in May 2014 called the book 'essential'.

ASC senior researcher André Leliveld, who is also a researcher within the Centre for Frugal Innovation in Africa (CFIA), gave a web lecture about frugal innovations and inclusive economic growth. Frugal innovations can be described as sober but ingenious products and services for small budgets and local conditions. The Centre for Frugal Innovation in Africa is a joint multidisciplinary centre of the Leiden, Delft and Erasmus universities.

Het ASC heeft een nieuwe themakaart geproduceerd: 'No-go' gebieden 2014. Deze uitgave bevat een kaart van Afrika én een kaart van de wereld waarop veilige en onveilige gebieden te zien zijn, gebaseerd op de reisadviezen van het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken. Begin november ontstond er opschudding over een vermeend bericht dat de Hogeschool van Amsterdam haar studenten niet naar Afrika liet reizen vanwege ebola en toenemende onveiligheid. De themakaart toont de situatie op 24 november 2014.

The historical novel Knot of Stone is a multi-layered tale of historical detection; incorporating oral testimonies, recorded histories, official documents, letters, diaries, dreams and prophecies. As a novel, it presents a carefully crafted and insightful revision of actual events, offering a courageous departure from mainstream historical writing. The main protagonists travel through Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, then on to Holland and England before returning to their country of residence South Africa. Via various roadside encounters they reconstruct the past and their own identities. Knot of Stone is the subject of our latest Acquisition Highlight!