During this year’s International Education Week, the Center for African Studies (CAS) partnered with the UF International Center (UFIC) and other campus organizations to celebrate the richness of global learning and cultural exchange. We kicked off Monday with a tabling session at the Reitz Union Breezeway, where CAS and UFIC connected with students and shared […]
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As we approach the holiday season, we’re taking a moment to look back at our Fall Party 2025. It turned out to be one of our most memorable yet. This year’s venue, the Florida Gym, brought an unexpected but welcome change of scenery, quickly becoming a vibrant backdrop once the room filled with the energy […]
Phumelele Ndlela is a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) for IsiZulu in the Program in African Languages (PAL) at the Center for African Studies at the University of Florida.
Dr. John Muchira, a Visiting Assistant Professor and Coordinator of African Languages at the Center for African Studies co-authored two Open Access Swahili textbooks through funding from U.S Department of Education Title VI National Language Resource Center grant that were published by University of Kansas over the summer and an article on the effects […]
The annual Lens on Africa Graduate Research Video Competition celebrates the hard work and achievements of UF graduate students conducting research on Africa or African-related themes.
Read more "Lens on Africa Graduate Research Video Competition 2025 Winners"
Selome Medemaku is a Nigerian writer and currently a master’s student in French and Francophone Studies in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. His academic and creative journey are shaped by a passion for storytelling. Growing up in Badagry, Nigeria, he grew up surrounded by books from authors like Tom Clancy, Daniella Steel, Francine Rivers, […]
This year’s theme, “From the Savannah to the Swamp: We Thrive Together,” emphasized the importance of maintaining cultural roots while building academic success at UF.
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Dr. Miles Larmer, Director of the UF Center for African Studies, recently traveled to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, to participate in a signing ceremony for a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions.
Summer research travel provides doctoral students with an invaluable opportunity to refine their dissertation proposals and establish the groundwork for successful fieldwork.
The Center for African Studies congratulates Nduka Mbadugha on his latest achievements as he graduates from the UF’s College of Communications and Journalism with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a minor in History and fall internship with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
On a lively Saturday afternoon at Flavet Field, the Center for African Studies, the Center for Latin American Studies, and the Center for European Studies joined forces for a spirited Inter-Center Football Tournament: Kick It for the Culture. Despite the heightened campus energy from UF’s Orange and Blue spring football game, students, faculty, and families […]
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John Muchira, the new African Languages Program Coordinator at UF’s Center for African Studies, brings passion and expertise to language teaching and program development, signaling renewed investment in language instruction.
The University of Florida’s Center for African Studies (CAS) hosted its 40th Gwendolen M. Carter Conference, bringing together the perspectives of Africanist scholars on issues of pressing importance to peoples and societies of Africa. The annual conference is considered the flagship event for the center.
Read more "UF’s Carter Conference brings together researchers from 14 universities across U.S."
The 2025 Southeast Regional Seminar in African Studies (SERSAS) brought together scholars and students for an interdisciplinary exploration of Africa’s evolving research landscape, highlighting collaboration, innovation, and new voices across the field.
Read more "UF Hosts SERSAS 2025: New Directions in African Studies"
Rebekkah Hudson is a third-year UF undergraduate double majoring in History and Linguistics with minors in African Studies and English, whose research—rooted in Gikuyu perspectives—reexamines the role of African agency in colonial-era forestry scouting in Kenya, with aspirations to pursue a Ph.D. in African History.
Echoes of Africa: Africa Expo was a day of celebration focused on the rich traditions of African cultures and languages. Organized in collaboration with the Center for African Studies and African Student Union.
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Kevin Kelsey, an ESOL teacher at Gainesville High School and the current chair of the ESOL department. He participated in the K-12 Teach Africa Summer Institute, and his article is featured in the latest Teach Africa publication.
Read more "Meet Kevin Kelsey: Teach Africa Summer Institute"
This webinar focused on the importance of learning African languages for career opportunities and engaging with African populations, with participants sharing their experiences and plans related to language learning and experiential learning.
The Harn Museum of Art came alive on the evening of February 13 with the vibrant sights and sounds of Museum Nights: Arts Across Africa—an annual celebration honoring African creativity through music, dance, fashion, and scholarship.
Read more "Celebrating Migration, and Expression at Arts Across Africa"
Baba Adou was born and raised in Mauritania. He earned a BA (Maîtrise) in English from the University of Nouakchott and an MA in Global and International Studies from the University of Kansas, which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar. He is a 4th-year Ph.D. student in the UF Department of Political Science. His research […]
Gainesville is set to transform into a vibrant center of Black creativity and imagination as the University of Florida Center for Arts, Migration and Entrepreneurship, known as CAME, hosts the second annual Afrofuturism Week from Jan. 16-30.
On November 16th, the African Student Union (ASU) hosted its 52nd Annual Pageant, African Riches: Finding the Next Diamond. This celebration of Africa and the African diaspora provided a platform for students to showcase their creativity and deep connection to African traditions through cultural expressions. The Mr. and Ms. ASU pageant had six talented contestants […]
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The Center for African Studies recently hosted its first interdisciplinary graduate workshop “The Environment in Africa,” that invited graduate researchers, faculty, and attendees to explore critical environmental issues across the continent. The event featured student presentations on diverse topics, including climate change, conservation, public health, and gender dynamics in fisheries. Joshua Benjamin explored macroinvertebrate shifts […]
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The 30th Annual International Student Achievement Awards recognized the outstanding contributions of our international student community. The event started with an opening and welcome by Dr. Marta L. Wayne, the Dean of the International Center and Associate Provost, and a keynote by Elias G. Eldayrie, Vice President & Chief Information Officer for the University of […]
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Each Summer, the Center for African Studies offers a virtual summer institute for K-12 teachers. The articles in this 2024 publication were produced by K-12 teachers who participated in the Center’s summer institutes of 2022 and 2023.
Read more "TEACH AFRICA 2024: TAKING AFRICA TO THE CLASSROOM"
This webinar aimed to empower students by highlighting the critical value of learning African languages in today’s workforce, discussing funding opportunities, and sharing the testimonies of students who have studied African languages.
Read more "Language, Culture, and Careers: Insights from the first PAL Webinar Series"
The annual Lens on Africa Graduate Research Video Competition celebrates the hard work and achievements of UF graduate students conducting research on Africa or African-related themes.
Read more "The Annual Lens on Africa Graduate Research Video Competition 2024 Winners"
Miles Larmer, the newly appointed director of the Center for African Studies and professor of history, has wasted no time in making an impact. His arrival this academic year coincides with the center’s 60-year milestone, signaling a fresh start.
Thirty years since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the Center for African Studies commemorated this terrible landmark event in African history.
The recent African Student Experience (ASx) Home Away from Home event proved to be a vibrant celebration of culture, academic excellence, and community spirit.
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The School Board of Alachua County, in conjunction with the University of Florida Center for African Studies and the African American Studies Program, hosted its first African and African American Studies Summer Camp.
CAS recently welcomed Ghana’s Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, for a two-day visit aimed at addressing urgent security concerns in West Africa. Minister Kan-Dapaah engaged with faculty, students, and experts to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the region and explore avenues for regional and international cooperation.
CAS hosted its annual Gwendolen M. Carter Conference, uniting leading experts, scholars, students, and community members to address pressing issues facing Africa’s people and environments.
On Thursday, February 8, 2024, the Harn Museum of Art, became a buzzing hub of creativity and cultural exchange.
Center for African Studies Summer Pre-dissertation Research Awards The Center for African Studies is pleased to announce that it will again offer a limited number of pre-dissertation research awards to UF doctoral students for summer 2025. Grants of up to $1,000 per individual from the Jeanne & Hunt Davis fund, the Madelyn M. Lockhart fund, and the CAS Alumni & Faculty fund will […]
In a week-long celebration of International Education, CAS collaborated with the International Center and the College of Education to host a series of engaging events. CAS ambassadors took the lead in organizing various activities. Monday started with the World Flag Display and International Programs Tables at the Reitz Union Breezeway, where multiple departments and programs […]
The Center for African Studies jointly with the Institute for Global Food Systems at IFAS hosted the visit of Dr. Alioune Touré, who is the Head of Livestock and Technology Sciences Department at the University of Sine-Saloum El Hadji Ibrahima NIASS (USSEIN) in Kaffrine, Senegal. Dr Toure is a veterinarian by training and served as […]
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In the month of October, Dr. Agness Leslie, fulfilling her role as the CAS Outreach Director, collaborated with UF students and professors to coordinate community engagement presentations at Eastside High School. Noteworthy among these presentations was the enlightening discourse delivered by Nicole Senuku Khumo, a graduate student specializing in Sustainable Development Practice, expounding on Botswana’s […]
The 2023 Annual CAS Fall Party, held at the IFAS Straughn Center on October 11th, was a joyous celebration of the Center’s academic and cultural community. Over a hundred guests, including CAS faculty, students, staff, and valued community partners, came together for an unforgettable evening. The festivities commenced with a captivating performance by the Pazeni […]
Are you interested in language immersion while researching or studying abroad? Consider applying for the Boren Awards! Join us for this one-time presentation on Tuesday, October 10 at 5:30pm, followed by Q&A with Boren Awards Manager, Michael Saffle. RSVP for the info session. The Boren Awards fund long-term study abroad for undergraduate and graduate students from […]
The Master of Sustainable Development Practice (MDP) program celebrated its 12th anniversary on April 10th, 2023, at Bryan Hall. Professor Jon Dain served as the event’s host. Dr. Glenn Galloway, Director of the MDP program and Dr. Renata Serra, MDP Graduate Coordinator provided a brief overview of the program and how it has evolved since its inception, highlighting the fact that […]
Center for African Studies Outreach Director Dr. Agness Leslie has received the 2023 University of Florida Superior Accomplishment Award for Community Service. Dr. Leslie, a Master Lecturer at the CAS, also teaches courses in political science, including “Women and Politics in Africa” and “China and Africa Relations.” As the Outreach Director, Dr. Leslie collaborates with […]
Baraza: March 3, 2023 Dr. Straussberger is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science & Public Administration. His publications include: “Storming the Citadel: Decolonization and Political Contestation in Guinea’s Futa Jallon, 1945-1961.” Journal of African History (2016) and “Fractures and Fragments: Finding Postcolonial Histories on Guinea in Local Archives.” History in Africa (2015). Dr. John (Trey) Straussberger, Assistant Professor […]
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The Center of African Studies relies on the support of alumni and friends to provide the best possible learning and research environment for students and faculty. Donate to the Center for African Studies now through Thursday, February 16
Baraza: February 3, 2023 Dr. Khalidi is CR1 researcher at CNRS and alumnus of the UF in Dar es Salaam study abroad program. Her publications include: “Survival kit for the afterlife or instruction manual for prehistorians? Staging artefact production in middle Neolithic cemetery Kadruka 23, Upper Nubia, Sudan.” Antiquity (co-author, 2021); “9000 years of human lakeside adaptation […]
Read more "Baraza Recap: Dr. Lamya Khalidi, Université Côte d’Azur"
Baraza: January 20, 2023 Dr. Mwaba is assistant professor in the department of government and earned her PhD at UF. Her recent writings have largely focused on public engagement: “Addressing a pandemic on a continental level.” Africa Is A Country (2020); “The African Union called on Congo to suspend its election’s results. That’s unprecedented.” The […]
Click the links below for more information: CIDCM_Ghana_PM (1) CIDCM_Benin_PM CIDCM_Benin_Postdoc
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Dr. Renata Serra (CAS Associate Instructional Professor and core MDP Faculty) has published a new article, “Promoting Gender Equity in Livelihoods Projects: Practitioners’ Perspectives Through the Lens of a Socio-ecological Model.” Written with Michelle Kendall, Alexandra Towns, and James Hummer, who are with the international humanitarian organization Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the article is based […]
CAME hosted the “Women Entrepreneurship, AI + Emerging Tech in Africa” event on September 27, 2022. Kishau Rogers shared in-depth insights into the processes for the success of her business, Time Study, and how she continues to triple the company’s revenue each year. Saidah Nash Carter shared her work focused on “Healing and Human Connection,” […]
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Faith Aiya is a second-year master’s student in the food and resource economics department. She hails from Edo, Nigeria, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 2017. Faith’s current research is aimed at helping Florida citrus growers manage the economic costs and risks associated with Citrus greening, an incurable disease that is currently […]
A team of University of Florida researchers has been awarded a $660,000 grant to detect and monitor risks of artisanal mining and charcoal production in Ghana, NASA announced last week. Entitled “Integrating Socio-Economic and Remotely Sensed Information to Characterize Conflict Precursors and Land Degradation Dynamics in Ghana”, the three-year project will combine images collected by […]
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Professor Benneta Jules-Rosette is a distinguished professor of sociology and the African and African American Studies Research Center director at the University of California, San Diego. She also served as the President of the Society for Africanist Anthropology of the American Anthropology Association. Professor Jules-Rosette is also in charge of the Bennetta Jules-Rosette Graduate Students Essay […]
This week’s baraza was part of the Islam in African Group annual symposium held from April 1-2 with a title of Muslim Africa and Changing Global Interconnections. Professor Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, who was invited to talk, is a political historian and public intellectual. Currently, he is a Deputy Director and professor of International History and […]
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The visitors spent the morning at Pugh Hall participating in a Graduate and Transfer Student Information & Recruitment Fair. For the afternoon, they proceeded to the Harn Museum for a gallery tour and dedicated language learning sessions. The students were divided into groups of 5 to work with each one of the African Language instructors on […]
Baraza: March 25, 2022 This week’s special baraza was also the keynote lecture for the SEAN (Southeast Africanist Network) annual meeting, held by Centre for African Studies. The speaker was Dr. Saida Hodžić, from Cornell University on the topic of “From (In)security to Abolition: African Perspectives on Ruling Imaginaries.” Dr. Saida Hodžić is associate professor […]
Baraza Recap With Dr. Kim Valenta, University of Florida Dr. Kim Valenta is assistant professor at the department of Anthropology, University of Florida. She is an evolutionary ecologist who is looking at co-evolution, sensatory ecology, and conservation of tropical animals and plants. Her research interest includes the interaction between wild plants and Animals and how […]
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CAS Community Spotlight Pazeni Sauti Africa Choir and Eric Murianki (Director) Eric Murianki is Director of Pazeni Sauti and a graduate research assistant at the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship (CAME). Previously, he studied at Kenyatta University, Kenya. He is now completing his PhD in Music Education through the UF School of Music. Pazeni Sauti […]
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Associate professor in the Department of Geography and the Center for African Studies Dr. Brian Child is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Center for African Studies. His work focuses on wildlife economics and governance related to community-based conservation, park management, and private conservation. He has extensive experience as a researcher and practitioner […]
Dr Christopher Witulski is an assistant professor of ethnomusicology and earned his PhD at UF. He is also the author of Focus: Music and Religion of Morocco (2019); The Gnawa Lions: Authenticity and Opportunity in Moroccan Ritual Music (2018); and “Light Rhythms and Heavy Spirits: Entertaining Listeners through Musical and Ritual Adaptations in Morocco.” Ethnomusicology Forum (2016), among others. […]
Professor in the Department of Religion Benjamin Soares is a scholar of Islam and Muslim societies in Africa whose research focuses on religious life from the early 20th century to the present. In recent work, he has looked at connections between changing modalities of religious expression, different modes of belonging, and emergent social imaginaries in […]
Dr. Marissa Moorman is a professor in the Department of African Cultural Studies, in University of Wisconsin. Her publications include: “Luanda Humms and Buzzes: Urban Soundscapes, Club Music, and Dance, 1960-present.” In Hossfeld, et al. (eds.) Ten Cities: Berlin, Bristol, Cairo, Johannesburg, Kiev, Lagos, Lisbon, Luanda, Nairobi, Naples (2020); Powerful Frequencies: Radio, State Power, and the Cold War in Angola, […]
Read more "Baraza Recap: Dr. Moorman, “Angolan Radio in Five Songs”"
Fatimah Tuggar | Associate professor in Art & Art History Interdisciplinary artist Tuggar was born in Nigeria and raised there and in the United Kingdom. She has studied, lived, and worked in the US since the late ’80s. Her work uses technology as both medium and subject to serve as metaphors for power dynamics. She […]
Research Tutorial At Home with Dr. Rose Lugano Documentation of for a Kitaita (Kidaw’ida)-English Dictionary: Final Review in Preparation for publication The objective of the research was to conduct a thorough review of collected data for the English-Kitaita/Kitaita-English dictionary in preparation for publication. This entailed identifying missing data and entering as it was availed, editing […]
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Glimpses of Haiti in West Africa, 1900-1920 Philip Janzen Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Florida In 2016, I was in Ibadan, Nigeria, reading through the Herbert Macaulay collection at the University of Ibadan. Macaulay (1864-1946), was an early Nigerian nationalist. He corresponded widely, and seems to have preserved every scrap of paper that […]
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The Crump Elementary School in Memphis TN hosted a virtual Africa Day on May 25, 2021. Ms. Tanisha William- the organizer and teacher at Crumps elementary School is an alumnus of the Summer Teacher’s Institute on Africa African. Graduate Students were present for this awesome event. We had 11 African Graduate Students present. This was […]
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AFRICA | CHINA WORKING GROUP FOCUS ON POST-COVID RELATIONS Fall Panel 2: Re-Thinking the China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Marina Rudyak, Heidelberg University China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Africa and the SDGs: Taking Stock of Promises and Implementation Gaps. Under What Conditions Do African Countries Benefit Most? Marina Rudyak is a sinologist working on the intersections […]
Katelyn Flaherty is a 4th year MD-PhD student in the Department of Environmental and Global Health. Her research focuses on pre-hospital care in low-and-middle income countries, specifically Ghana. Globally, leading causes of death among children one month to 5 years old include respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, and malaria, all of which are highly treatable early […]
Read more "Student Feature: Katelyn Flaherty, Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellow"
African Legacies Through the Lens of Ethiopian Contemporary Fine Artist Prince Merid Tafesse AQJ Harvest History is aimed to “Inspire others to reach great heights. Preserving fragile histories and bring unique experiences to life” was the inspiration for the Art Talk by Ethiopian contemporary fine artist, Prince Merid Tafesse and Pan African Creative Consultant & […]
Dr. Brian Child was asked to stand to be one of four African Councilors for IUCN by the African Community Leaders Forum and others. Following the recent global elections at the World Conservation Congress in Marseilles, Dr. Child was elected for this honorary position. The Council sets forth strategic direction and policy for the Union. Given […]
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Rujeko Dumbutshena Assistant Professor, School of Theatre & Dance Please join the Center for African Studies in welcoming Rujeko Dumbutshena as Assistant Professor in the School of Theatre and Dance. Rujeko is a Zimbabwean-born dancer, pedagogue, and performer who specializes in neo-traditional and contemporary African dance. She comes to UF from University of Washington, Seattle […]
Salafism and Political Order in Africa Violent Islamic extremism is affecting a growing number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In some, jihadi Salafi organizations have established home bases and turned into permanent security challengers. However, other countries have managed to prevent the formation or curb the spread of homegrown jihadi Salafi organizations. In this book, […]
Congratulations to Dr. Marit Østebø, recently named a 2021-2024 Term Professor at University of Florida. These three-year professorships were created by UF to recognize faculty who have established a distinguished record of research and scholarship that is expected to lead to continuing distinction in their field.
Østebø, Marit Tolo, Terje Østebø, and Kjetil Tronvoll. 2021. “Health and politics in pandemic times: COVID-19 responses in Ethiopia.” Health Policy and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czab091. Østebø, Terje, Kjetil Tronvoll, and Marit Tolo Østebø. 2021. “Religion and the ‘Secular shadow’: responses to covid-19 in Ethiopia.” Religion:1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/0048721X.2021.1943769
Read more "Two new publications from Dr. Marit Østebø and Dr. Terje Østebø:"
The Program in African Languages (PAL) is one of the Center for African Studies’ central components in its mission to work with the rest of the University in promoting Africa-related studies on the campus and beyond. In addition to undergraduate education, the CAS promotes and supports graduate studies as essential part for the development of a continuing […]
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We are now a few days into the Fall semester. I’d like to extend a welcome to the new and returning members of the UF Center for African Studies community. I hope you have had a restful, healthy, and enjoyable summer and are ready for the semester ahead. If you haven’t gotten a chance to […]
Watch the presentation here and read a summary of her work below! Summary In this presentation, Ange presents the results of her MDP field practicum research through which she explored the relationships between the historical legacies of racial violence, slavery and segregation and the prevalence of poverty among African American communities in Alachua County. Using […]
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The Mixing Disciplines Workshop’s two-day virtual zoom conference occurred from April 22-23rd, 2021. Supported by the Center for African Studies, this two-day conference started with a detour to Lusophone Africa with the screening of Billy Woodberry film “A Story from Africa (2018). This film was a brilliant work that gave life to photos from archives […]
Cady Gonzalez (PhD Candidate, Anthropology) recently published an article in Roadsides 005, “Exposing the Archive, Unlocking the Grid.” In the visual essay, she casts a design gaze on a roadside sanitation program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to explore the “city-as-archive” by making visible the affinity between archive and the public utility grid.
Jessica Casimir-Vadeboncoeur (Sociology) will be joining the University of North Carolina Asheville as a University Fellow for Faculty Diversity in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology.
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On April 16th, 2021, The Center for African Studies hosted its weekly Baraza entitled, “Servers, Safaris, and Social Ascension: African Labor in the Tourism Industry of Colonial Mozambique, 1890-1975”. The presentation was given by Dr. Todd Cleveland, associate professor of history at the University of Arkansas. His publications include: Following the Ball: The Migration of African […]
On April 12th, 2021, the Institutions and the State in Africa Working Group, hosted Dr. Margaret Ariotti, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Affairs, University of Georgia. Her talk was based on her forthcoming book project. This session focused on one chapter from her book with the topic titled: Beyond the Big Man: Executive-Legislative […]
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On April 9th, 2021 the Center for African Studies, the Islam in Africa Working Group, the Center for Global Islamic Studies, the Department of Religion, and the Henry Luce Foundation presented: A Baraza with Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. The title of the Talk was “Christian-Muslim Encounters: The Nigerian Experience” Matthew Hassan Kukah is the bishop of […]
David Rifkind will join the UF faculty July 1 as Director of the School of Architecture after 14 years at Florida International University. Trained as an architect and as an architectural historian, David studies urbanism and architecture in Ethiopia from the late nineteenth century to the present. His current book project, Modern Ethiopia: Architecture, Urbanism, and […]
Considered the greatest distinction of any student award given by the college, the Gator Engineering Attribute Awards are intended to provide an ideal guide for all members of the Gator Engineering community. They honor five undergraduate and five Ph.D. students who strongly model one of the five Gator Engineering Attributes: Creativity: imaginative, versatile, resourceful, artful, curious, passionate, inspired, innovative, willing to discover […]
Read more "CAS Grad Student Ayobami Edun Awarded Prestigious College Distinction"
On March 26th, 2021 the Health in Africa working group held their Post-COVID-19 opportunities and need: exploring potential collaboration event. Dr. Elizabeth Devos and Kim Dunleavy led the session. The session focused on what participants had experienced during COVID-19 to research and collaborative partnerships. The session had faculty join from international institutions such as the University […]
On March 29th,2021, The Social Change and Development Working Group hosted Dr. Noémi Tousignant, Lecturer at The University College London. Her presentation was titled: Carcinogenic Residues of Global Biomedicine in Senegal. Dr. Tousignant’s work focuses on historical and contemporary intersections of biomedicine with global inequalities in health in West Africa, especially in Senegal. Dr. Tousignant […]
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Have you checked out our YouTube Channel lately? Be sure to take a look–we’ve uploaded additional talks by recent speakers incl. Cheikh Thiam, Katherine Luongo, Alex Thurston, & Folashade Soulé. You can also view recently uploaded videos from Achebe | Baldwin @ 40! Watch our videos now & subscribe! UF Center for African Studies YouTube […]
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this year’s Distinguished Lecture in African Archaeology will be postponed until Fall 2021.
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Apply Now Apply now to join the Center for African Studies team as an Undergraduate TA for the Global Health Institute (GHI)! GHI is a four-day virtual program in global health for high school students. Undergrad TAs will assist program instructors & work directly with students learning about global health with a focus on Africa. […]
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On March 26, 2021, The Center for African Studies presents hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “Partners in Crime: The Dog in the Art of Post-apartheid South Africa”. The presentation was given by Dr. Álvaro Luís Lima, an assistant professor of art history here at the University of Florida. His publications include: “The Place of Socialism […]
The UF Center for African Studies condemns any form of violence, discrimination, stereotyping, and hate. We express solidarity and reaffirm our support for our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students, faculty, staff, and broader community.
Ancestral Lands in FL and the Home Sweet Home Project Belay Alem (Graduate Student, CAS & Anthropology) recently was accepted as a volunteer research associate in the Three Rivers Legal Service. He will be working on the Home Sweet Home Project, which assists African Americans in probate cases to maintain their property/ land or structure inherited […]
On March 15th, 2021 the Institutions and State Working Group through the Center for African Studies had a seminar by Dr. Nicholas N. Kerr, UF. The title of his talk was: “Election Commissions & Opposition Behavior in Africa’s Multiparty Regimes: Does Institutional Performance Matter for Election Boycotts and Losers’ Compliance?” This talk was focused on […]
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On March 19th, 2021, the Center for African Studies hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “COVID-19, Coloniality, and the Limits of Western Arrogance: Thoughts from Africa.” The presentation was given by Dr. Cheikh Thiam, the academic dean for Africa South of the Sahara at the School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT. His publications include: “Negritude Africentered: […]
The SouthEast Africanist Network (SEAN) was founded at University of Florida in 2000 and partnered with the Southeastern Regional Seminar on African Studies (SERSAS) in 2010 to host an annual joint meeting. The SERSAS/SEAN 2021 Virtual Spring Conference occurred on March 12-March 13th, 2021 and was co-hosted by UNC and UF African Studies Centers on […]
Newberry FL February 22- 26, 2021 The Assistant Principal of Newbery Elementary School invited the CAS graduate students to speak at their Black History Month (Week). They presented to students from Kindergarten to the 4th grade. The students were delighted to hear them speak. They interacted with the speakers and enjoyed their BHM week sessions. […]
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With Oyindamola Oyebade Global Learning Series- Nigeria 02/25/2021 Oyindamola gave a presentation in Ms. Tanisha Williams’ class in Crumps Elementary School in Memphis, TN on February 27, 2021. She gave an overview of Nigeria and its cultural diversity and the beauty of the Yoruba culture. She also gave them an overview of Yoruba greetings, foods, […]
The Center for African Studies highlights new book releases by our very own faculty members: Terje Østebø, Marit Østebø, Adrienne Strong and Luise White. Islam, Ethnicity, and Conflict in Ethiopia, The Bale Insurgency, 1963-1970 by Terje Østebø Village Gone Viral, Understanding the Spread of Policy Models in a Digital Age by Marit Tolo Østebø Documenting […]
On March 5th,2021, The Center for African Studies hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “How Should the Biden Administration Engage with a Rapidly Declining Nigeria – and Does it Matter?”. Dr. Brenda Chalfin Director of the Center for African Studies and Dr. Villalón, Dean of the International Center at UF welcomed the speaker. Ambassador John Campbell […]
On February 26th, 2021, the Center for African Studies hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “Border-Crossing Beliefs: African Witchcraft and Global Asylum-Seeking”. The presentation was given by Dr. Katherine Luongo, a professor of History at Northeastern University. Dr. Luongo is a specialist in the anthropological history of Kenya. Her work focuses on legal systems in colonial […]
“The Cloth Talk: Meaning of Some Selected Wax Prints” Terwilliger Elementary School, Gainesville 2/3/2021 Irby Elementary School, Alachua 2/5/2021 Lake Forest Elementary School, Gainesville 2/11/2021 Felicity presented at these three elementary schools in February. She presented the history of wax print and the selected meanings. She also explained the meanings of the proverbs behind the […]
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Ms. Nicole Harris was awarded the Teacher of the Year for Alachua County. She was awarded the Teacher of the Year at Gainesville High School last year. She is an alumna of the Teacher’s Summer Institute hosted by the Center for African Studies. She is the curator, organizer, and program manager of the first African Diaspora History Fair at […]
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On February 19th, 2021, the Center for African Studies hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “We Became Ghanaian: The Archive, Race, and the USSR.” The presentation was given by Dr. Nana Osei-Opare, an Assistant Professor of African and Cold War History at Fordham University, New York City. He currently working on a manuscript tentatively titled, Ghana’s Cold War: […]
Due March 15, 2021 The Center for African Studies is pleased to announce that it will again offer a limited number of pre-dissertation research awards to UF doctoral students for summer 2021. Grants of up to $1,000 per individual from the Jeanne & Hunt Davis fund, the Madelyn M. Lockhart fund, and the CAS Alumni & Faculty fund […]
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On Feb 10th, 2021, Ayobami Edun, a PhD Student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UF presented at the SASA (Students in African Studies Association) meeting. His lecture was titled, “The 2020 Co-Vent Project: A UF Contribution to the COVID Global Crisis.” The project was supported by the Center for African Studies and the University […]
Museum Nights – Sankofa was hosted by the Harn Museum of Art on Thursday, February 11, 7 pm. Dr. Agnes Leslie gave the welcome address. Dr. Kole Odutola from the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures at the University of Florida narrated a story. Barakissa Coulibaly, Master West African dancer and choreographer from Abobo, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire and […]
Graduate Student Maurine Andia Akifuma Presents at Idylwild Elementary School “The Role of Domesticated Animals in African Communities and the Lion King Movie,” by Maurine Andia Akifuma at ldylwild Elementary School, Gainesville 2/12/2021. Andia discussed with the students about the role and importance of domesticated animals among the people of African communities specifically the Swahili – not limited […]
Dr. Anita Spring, Dr. Lina Benabdallah, and Dr. Agnes Leslie organized this event as part of the Africa-China working group symposium. On February 12th, 2021, the Center for African Studies with the China-Africa working group hosted its weekly Baraza entitled: “African Agency in the Pandemic Time: Reflecting on Africa-China Relations”. The presentation was given by […]
Apply Now! Under the Center’s US Department of Education Title VI NRC grant with supplemental support from UF Office of Research, the Center for African Studies typically has available annual travel awards for participation in academic conferences to present research related to Africa. Given continued restrictions on travel due to Covid-19, for Spring and Summer […]
Read more "Spring & Summer 2021 CAS Conference Registration Awards – Due Mar. 8"
Intensive African Language Study: Complete one year of Language Study in 8 weeks. All courses will be remote synchronous and include classwork and one on one study with conversation partners. Course offerings meet the requirements of FLAS awards. The program is also open to non-FLAS students from any institution in US or abroad. Tuition rates […]
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On Friday September 11, Dr. Matiangai Sirleaf (University of Maryland) presented, “Africa, COVID-19, and Responsibility.” Sirleaf is the Nathan Patz Professor of Law. She writes and teaches in the areas of global public health law, public international law, international human rights law, international criminal law, post-conflict and transitional justice, and criminal law. Her most recent publications in this area […]
Candace grew up in Gainesville loving the University of Florida. She attended Westwood Middle School & Gainesville High School and graduated from Florida State University with a BS Hospitality Administration. Candace participated in the Summer Study Abroad in Switzerland. She notes that Switzerland was wonderful & some of the other countries that she enjoyed included: […]
Welcome back! The Center for African Studies has another busy year ahead despite our mostly remote operation. It’s a hard time to be apart when we typically begin the Fall semester with excited reunions, in-person orientations for new students and faculty, and charged discussions of recent research and travel. This summer was very different. Most […]
In 2018 the University of Florida created its moonshot initiatives to address society’s “most urgent problems while redefining the role of a land-grant university for the 21st century.” UF identified and included migration as one of the great challenges and opportunities. The world is shifting quickly and, specifically in Florida, the population is growing rapidly […]
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I am honored to share my father’s secret ‘Potiron or Giraumon soup”. there is nothing secret about it other than a simple way to get his twelve kids eating their soup which was known as ‘la Soupe des Fous’. As kids my father endlessly told us about la légende de la Courge de Mailhac and […]
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Research Post Written by Megan Cogburn (PhD Candidate, Anthropology) For the past 8 months I have been in Tanzania completing a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research project. My ethnographic research focuses on maternal health governance and the pregnancy and childbirth care experiences of women in rural communities in the central Dodoma region of Tanzania. I am […]
Read more "Returning from the Field: Graduate Student Megan Cogburn on Research and Motherhood"
March 21st marked seven years since Prof. Chinualumogu Albert Achebe joined his ancestors. He died in Boston, USA on 21st March 2013, after a brief illness, aged 82. In life and in death he remains many things to many people. His Son, Dr. Chidi Achebe in remembrance of his father sent a message around on […]
Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships are available for Undergraduate and Graduate students. Deadline: February 10, 2025 Undergraduate Students Graduate Students Click the link to learn more and access the application
Graduate Student Amanda Edgell recently published her article, “Vying for a Man Seat: Gender Quotas and Sustainable Representation in Africa” in African Studies Review. The article stemmed from her paper presented at last year’s African Studies Association meeting, which won the Graduate Student Paper Prize. CAS News Bulletin- Week of May 14, 2018
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Graduate Student Ben Smith published his article, “Hunting in yellow waters: an ethnoarchaeological perspective on selective fishing on Lake Turkana” in Quaternary International. CAS News Bulletin- Week of May 14, 2018
Dr. Peter Schmidt is professor of anthropology and a former director of the Center for African Studies. He has conducted archaeological research in Tanzania, Eritrea, Kenya, Ethiopia, and throughout eastern Africa. His work has a strong focus on facilitating community archaeology in the regions he conducts research. His publications include: “Hardcore Ethnography: Interrogating the Intersection of […]
A quick note to wish everyone a wonderful summer. It’s been quite a year here at UF. We weathered hurricanes and white-nationalist rallies, only to end the year with a bungled graduation ceremony. Goings-on at CAS have been much more successful, and inclusive. Building on hard-work of graduate program assistant Riley Ravary, we welcomed our […]
Jessica Casimir (Ph.D. Candidate, Sociology) received a Boren fellowship to conduct field research in South Africa during 2018-19. CAS News Bulletin- Week of April 23, 2018
Ryan Z. Good (Ph.D. Candidate, Geography) was awarded a travel grant from the Urban Geography Specialty Group for his work in Tanzania at the recent American Association of Geographers conference. At the same meeting, Ryan was named a finalist for the Landscape Specialty Group’s best presentation award for his dissertation work on urban environmental change around Lake […]
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Jesse B. Borden Department: School for Natural Resources and Environment Thesis Title: “Ecological Disturbances and Canopy Communities”Ann Lee Grimstad Department: History Dissertation Title: “Zanzibar: the Nine Hour Revolution”Erik Timmons Department: Anthropology Dissertation Title: “Hip-Hop Life and Livelihood in Nairobi, Kenya.” Jacqueline Allegra Curnick Department: MDP Field Practicum: “Environmental health and justice in Alaska and Documentary: Pulling […]
Read more "Congratulations to all students graduating this semester!"
Beginning in 2018, Benjamin Soares will direct a three-year multi-disciplinary project, “Islam and Africa in Global Context,” funded through a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Initiative on Religion in International Affairs to the University of Florida. The project will be carried out by the Center for Global Islamic Studies in conjunction with the Center […]
Anna Mwaba (Political Science) has accepted a one-year Lecturer position in Government at Smith College starting Fall 2018. We welcome Raeann Meyerhoff to the Center for African Studies! She will be acting as the new Travel Specialist for the Center. CAS News Bulletin- Week of April 9, 2018
Dr. Nancy Hunt has been announced as a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. Congratulations! Her project, “Ideation as History: Dream Collectors and Picture Archives from Post-1968 Urban Congo” seeks to join images and words to dreaming in the ex-Belgian Congo. Her approach uses both history and anthropology to consider how text-image links to Congo’s postwar period. She will […]
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A portrait of Mandissa Haarhoff (PhD student, English) was recently painted in downtown Gainesville. The mural, located at the entrance of the Gainesville Southwest Downtown Parking Garage, is part of the Urban Revitalization Project and 352walls project. If you want more info on the Urban Revitalization Project, click here. CAS News Bulletin- Week of April 2, […]
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Sebastian Elischer and Lisa Mueller have a new piece in the Washington Post discussing Niger’s protests. CAS News Bulletin- Week of April 2, 2018
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Peter Schmidt. 2017. The Colonial Origins of Myth and National Identity in Uganda. In Unmasking Ideology: The Vocabulary and Symbols of Colonial Archaeology, eds. Bonnie Effros and Goulong Lai. Los Angeles: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA. CAS News Bulletin- Week of March 19, 2018
Read more "Dr. Peter Schmidt Publishes Chapter in Unmasking Ideology"
Dr. Sandra L. Russo, Director of the Office for Global Research Engagement (OGRE) in the University of Florida’s International Center (UFIC), was recognized by the UF Association of Academic Women as AAW Woman of Distinction 2018. Dr. Russo was presented with the award at the Women’s History Month Awards Reception on March 14th, at the […]
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Gainesville, FL – March 13, 2018- NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, announced today that the University of Florida has been selected as one of five institutions to receive the 2018 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization. The award will be formally presented during International Education Week on November 13 in Washington D.C. UF […]
Morgan Ungrady Carli Snyder Moustapha Hoyeck Elisabeth Rios-Brooks Melody MullallyAmbassadors will play an active role in undergraduate recruitment and outreach initiatives. Students chosen for the position were selected for their commitment to African Studies, academic excellence, communication skills, and intercultural competency.The Center will be hosting an induction ceremony Tuesday February 27 at 4pm in 471 […]
Undernutrition is an underlying cause of nearly half of all deaths among children under five, and, in Africa, nearly one third of children are chronically undernourished. Chronic malnutrition – as indicated by stunted growth – is not completely reversed by optimized diet and reduced diarrhea. This has led to the hypothesis that a primary underlying […]
African Studies alumni, Lina Benabdallah quoted in New York Times article, which discusses portrayals of Africa featured in China’s televised Lunar New Year Show. CAS News Bulletin- Week of February 19, 2018
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In the latest OECD West African Paper, Dan Eizenga and the UF Sahel Research Group look at the short and long-term outlook for security and political stability in Chad. Read it here. CAS News Bulletin- Week of February 12, 2018
“Text Meets Image & Image Meets Text: Sequences & Assemblages out of Africa & Congo” February 8-10, 2018 A critical public forum about contemporary African arts and their curation and politics. The conference celebrates one Congolese street artist’s comic archive, now held by UF, aiming toward the first Papa Mfumu’eto exhibitions in Gainesville and beyond. […]
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The 2018 Carter Conference will take place February 8-10. For more information on the conference including this year’s program, visit the Carter Conference page.
Read more "2018 Carter Conference: Text Meets Image and Image Meets Text"
What does the future hold for Niger’s stability? In the latest OECD West African Paper, Dr. Sebastian Elischer and the Sahel Research Group gauge the state of play and look at three possible scenarios for the country’s stability. Read it here. CAS News Bulletin- Week of January 29, 2018
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To see more of UF student Zoe Nhleko’s work on white rhino conservation, read the feature from UF News. Photo by Lyon Duong/UF Photography; Story by Alisson Clark/UF News. CAS News Bulletin- Week of January 29, 2018
Northwestern University has appointed political scientist Zekeria Ahmed Salem, as director of the Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa (ISITA). Zekeria was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of Florida from 2010-11. More information on his appointment and current research can be found here. CAS News Bulletin- Week of January 15, 2018
On Friday January 12, the Center for African Studies celebrated the unveiling of the Historical Marker located on Grinter Lawn. The event began with songs by Pazeni Africa Choir, as well as lectures by Brenda Chalfin (Director, Center for African Studies), David Richardson (Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Leonardo Villalon (Dean, UF International […]
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UF gets $8.7 million grant to improve nutritional quality and food safety in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso. To learn more read the article or read the Twitter updates. CAS News Bulletin- Week of January 8, 2018
Leonardo A. Villalón and Olivier Walther presented their new OECD project Cities and Borders at a workshop entitled “Linking borderlands research and policy in Africa and Europe” in Niamey, Niger on December 1. The workshop was organized by Point Sud, the African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE) and the Laboratory of Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and Local Development (Lasdel). CAS News […]
Graduate Student News Anna Mwaba (Political Science) just successfully defended her dissertation, “Monitoring Elections in Africa: Investigating the Role of Regional Actors.” Congratulations Anna on your successful defense! Mandisa Haarhoff (English Literature) has been hired as a lecturer in the Department of English Literature at the University of Cape Town. She notes that she will be the first […]
