Upcoming Africa-related Events at Columbia
Film Screening: "The Waste Commons"
Ethnographies of Work in Africa Workshop
Studies in Contemporary Africa: Emanuel Admassu
Welcome to the Institute of African Studies
Founded in 1959, the Institute of African Studies (IAS) at Columbia University stands as one of the few autonomous institutes in the United States dedicated solely to the study of Africa. For over six decades, IAS has served as a vital hub for the exploration and understanding of the continent's complexities and its global connections.
IAS is a dynamic intellectual space that fosters interdisciplinary thinking on the historical and contemporary issues facing Africa. It embraces the continent’s oceanic connections and highlights its profound philosophical, religious, humanistic, and artistic traditions.
The Institute is committed to enriching both public and academic discourse on Africa's intellectual, cultural, and artistic wealth. Through a combination of rigorous academic programs, engaging co-curricular activities, and global partnerships, IAS inspires vibrant, interdisciplinary conversations and meaningful exchanges.
The IAS serves as Columbia University's central hub for Africa-focused academic programming and research. Through collaborations with departments and groups across campus, IAS fosters learning, dialogue, and meaningful exchanges about the continent.
Recent News
The honor from the Comparative and International Education Society recognizes Mendenhall and her co-editors for their book, Education and Resilience in Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Congratulations to Rosalind Morris, whose book, Unstable Ground: The Lives, Deaths and Afterlives of Gold in South Africa, has been published by Columbia University Press.
The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science is offering up to two short-term fellowships (1-6 months) for scholars researching histories of knowledge and collective life in Africa, starting September 1, 2025.
