How to make light in dark times? The NVAS Africa Day, held on 15 March in Utrecht, will focus on humor, in theory and in practice. While the humorous and the playful may sometimes seem incongruous with crises, they both find their foundation in absurdity. Humor functions to address topics that are sensitive, ‘off-limits,’ and to subvert the status quo. Join us in Utrecht!

The ASCL will be hosting a two-day workshop on 19-20 March on the lasting legacy of mineral resource extraction in Africa. The workshop is held within the context of the Boom to Dust project, and is organised by students in the ResMa African Studies. Highlight will be a presentation of Prof. Rita Kesselring's (St. Gallen) latest book on Zambia.

The ASCL has a vibrant Visiting Fellows Programme. Selected fellows collaborate and network with colleagues, and make use of our excellent library. In January, three visiting fellows started their three-month stay at the ASCL: Chidiebere Victor Adim, Elijah Doro and Jonathan Echeverri Zuluaga.

Jon Abbink's blog,The Sudan Impasse 2023-2025: Prospects for ‘Normal Politics’, discusses the ongoing devastating conflict in Sudan, which has persisted for nearly two years, leading to widespread suffering and humanitarian crises. 

Lidewyde Berckmoes wins an NWO Open Competition Grant for a project on intergenerational resilience and anticipation of conflict and natural disaster. It investigates how descendants of survivors of violent conflict anticipate and respond to future disaster, both conflict and natural disaster.

Chibuike Uche and Azeb Amha have been awarded grants in the Leiden University Global Seed Fund. This Fund was established in 2024 to enhance the relationship between Leiden University and her partners in Africa, Latin America, North East and South East Asia.