News & Events

On 30 June 1960, Patrice Lumumba gave his legendary speech at the Ceremony of the Proclamation of Congo's Independence. From that moment, and even more so after Lumumba’s controversial assassination in 1961, Lumumba has become one of the most iconic leaders of the African independence struggle. This month’s Library Highlight features Lumumba in the arts, edited by Matthias de Groof, a richly illustrated volume about the representation of Patrice Lumumba in various art forms. Read the Library Highlight!

The Library of the African Studies Centre of Leiden University is open for visitors - reservation by e-mail is compulsory. Studying in the ASCL Library will be possible during time slots of maximum 3 hours. Please remember that face masks are mandatory when you enter, leave and move around in the building. Read all about the new regulations.

In 1960, seventeen countries in Africa declared independence. Hence, the year became known as the 'Year of Africa'. Sixty years later, the New York Times has made a special online production in which images tell the story of independence: 'Reflections on 1960, the Year of Africa'. Each of the seventeen countries that gained independence in 1960 is represented in photographs. In addition, there are images from other countries that became independent just after or before 1960.