News & Events

The week of 8 June marked the official launch of VOICE: Learning Globally, Acting Locally. The education programme brings together facilitators from eleven institutions across four partner countries, and forty participants from more than ten countries have signed up.

On 14 June 1948, the Malagasy writer, journalist and filmmaker Michèle Rakotoson was born in Antananarivo. She has published more than ten novels and plays, including Danabé and more recently Ambatomanga, Le silence et la douleur. Her work explores themes like colonization, memory, identity, and environmental justice.

The summer break is approaching rapidly, and what better way to spend it than by having a good read in the sunshine. The African Library has compiled a selection of newly acquired fiction to keep you entertained. The library will stay open during the summer, so have a look and come pick up one of these great titles!

Submit your Africa-related master’s thesis for the Africa Thesis Award 2026, have it published and win € 500! The Africa Thesis Award is an annual initiative by the African Studies Centre Leiden and Brill that recognises outstanding master’s theses.

We are very sad to report that our former colleague, friend and mentor Professor Fantu Cheru passed on on Sunday 31 May. Fantu worked as a senior researcher at the ASCL from 2014 to 2019. Former colleagues Mohamed Salih (ISS) and Jon Abbink (ASCL) wrote an obituary in his honour.