About the IAS

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.

External Grants and Collaborations

IAS has secured numerous grants from prestigious institutions, fueling collaborations with Universite Paris 1, CEMAf, and Sciences Po. These grants have facilitated intellectual ties and initiatives in African education, public health, history, and international affairs. From these research collaborations, it has supported the publication of 12 edited books, journal articles, and numerous conferences on issues of citizenship, religion, philosophy, art, and politics.

Preparing Future Africanist Scholars

IAS offers a range of academic programs designed to enrich students’ knowledge of Africa and prepare them for impactful careers in academia, diplomacy, human rights, development, journalism, law, and business.

Graduate Certificate in African Studies: Enhances graduate-level expertise in African Studies.

Africa Specialisation at SIPA: Provides targeted training for students at the School of International and Public Affairs.

Students can also pursue a major in African Studies through Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) and gain language training in Wolof, Arabic, Pulaar, Swahili, Zulu, and Yoruba through MESAAS and the Language Resource Center (LRC).

Interdisciplinary Partnerships and Dynamic Programming

IAS partners with departments, centres, institutes, and student groups across the university to reach new audiences and facilitate an exchange of knowledge about Africa. These include Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Columbia Global Centers in Nairobi and Tunisia as well as Sciences Po, Paris 1 University, the Centre d'Etudes des Mondes Africains (CEMAf), the French American Cultural Exchange (FACE), and IFRA in Nigeria to support collaborative research groups and conferences on Africa, and to facilitate faculty and student exchange between these sites. IAS has a strong record for collaboration with institutions across New York.