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Welcome to the African Studies Institute

We serve as the nexus for Africa-related activities at the University of Georgia

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You are here! We are so glad

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The African Studies Institute (ASI) is a nexus for Africa-related activities at the University of Georgia. The institute is an interdisciplinary area study institute administratively situated in UGA's oldest college, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The mission of the African Studies Institute is to disseminate knowledge and information about Africa; its people, geography, cultures, languages, economic development, agriculture, education and social structures throughout the University of Georgia (and beyond). In pursuit of its mission, ASI offers varied academic programming including an undergraduate Certificate in African Studies, and undergraduate Minor in African Studies, and a Graduate Certificate in African Studies. In addition, ASI supports the Minor in African Languages and Literatures, the Minor in Swahili Language and the Program in African Languages in the department of Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies.

With Core and affiliated Faculty and staff members from all eighteen of UGA's Colleges and Schools, ASI leverages multidisciplinary Africanist expertise across the University to build research capacity and offer opportunities for instruction and experiential community service. Through African Studies (AFST) courses, academic programming, research projects, and outreach activities, ASI has built strong capacities around Pedagogical Focus Areas (PFA): (1) African Languages and Cultures;(2) African Knowledge and Belief Systems;(3) History of the African World;(4) African Literary and Performance Arts;(5) Science, Technology, and Resource Management in Africa;(6) Nutrition and Public Health Research in Africa; and (7) International Law and Justice.

ASI is an active institution in the University System of Georgia Africa Council (USAC) and the Southeast African Language and Literature Forum (SEALLF), and is well poised to assume an even greater leadership role regionally and nationally.

Akinloye Ojo
Director

Featured Content

Latest News

A series of African Studies (AFST) and AFST cross-listed courses offered during the Fall 2024 semester are listed below. We are particularly pleased to re-introduce AMHA 1001: Elementary Amharic I.
Rachel Gabara, an African Studies affiliate faculty member, has been named the first Nancy Gillespie Brinning Professor in French. The endowed professorship, approved by UGA and the USG Board of Regents at their February meeting, becomes effective August 1, 2024.
The University of Georgia is proud to announce its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

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