News & Events

Soon after the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, warnings have been shared about the collateral damage that could soon follow in terms of disturbed food markets, particularly in Africa. A number of African countries have become major importers of wheat and corn from Russia and Ukraine. Food price increases may lead to hunger, food riots, and other disturbances, writes Ton Dietz in the ASCL Africanist Blog.

ASCL PhD candidate Tycho van der Hoog is one of the twelve new Faces of Science. Faces of Science is a project of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), The Young Academy and NEMO Science Museum. Young scientists give people a glimpse into their research and their lives as scientists via blogs, vlogs, video clips, articles and lectures. Van der Hoog's research project deals with the links between North Korea and southern Africa.

On the occasion of the Rwanda book exhibition, that was opened at the African Studies Centre Leiden on 31 March 2022, the ASCL Library has compiled a web dossier that presents all publications displayed at the exhibition. The publication titles link to the corresponding record in the online catalogue. The dossier is introduced by Elvire Eijkman and concludes with a selection of relevant websites. Read the web dossier.

Over 170 publications were acquired for the ASCL Library during a trip to Zimbabwe. A number of pictorial works, biblical and historical books, as well as an extensive and fairly representative selection of textbooks written in conformity to the new Zimbabwean curriculum, were bought. Read all about it in the Library Highlight!

Are you looking for a master's programme offering you in-depth knowledge about different aspects of Africa? Find out all about the master's and research master's programmes in African Studies during the Master's Open Day on Thursday 10 March! Online presentations on the Master and Research Master African Studies will be given from 15.30-16.30. 

The Netherlands Association of African Studies dedicates its 25th anniversary conference to spoken mediation. Fighting with words can be as harmful as fighting with swords. Similarly, in reconciliation and cooperation, speech is an essential resource. Submit your papers before 31 August!

We are deeply saddened by the news that Professor Kassahun Berhanu Alemu of Addis Ababa University (AAU) passed away on 22 February 2022. Prof. Kassahun was a visiting fellow at the African Studies Centre Leiden twice (in 1999 and 2009) and a fellow of the ASCL Community. He was well-known among the wider Ethiopian public for his many appearances in the media and his thoughtful contributions to public debates on Ethiopian affairs.