Dear Members of the African Studies Association of Africa,
As 2025 comes to a close, I am deeply grateful to share this moment with you, filled with reflection and renewed hope. It’s an excellent opportunity to reflect on a year of meaningful teamwork, learning, and growth, while also welcoming new opportunities and ideas for the year ahead.
The year 2025 stands out as a truly memorable milestone for our Association. It was highlighted by the incredible success of our 6th Biennial Conference in Praia, Cabo Verde, themed “African Responses to Global Vulnerabilities: Building Hope for the Future.” We remain grateful to our host country, and the University of Cabo Verde: first to His Excellency, José Maria Neves, President of Cabo Verde; to the rector of the University of Cabo Verde, Prof. José Arlindo Fernandes Barreto; and to the excellent team of Uni-CV colleagues who made our experience memorable! We were indeed thrilled to welcome scholars, researchers, artists, policymakers, and practitioners from across Africa and the diaspora to explore the challenges facing our continent amid uncertainty, transition, and change. More importantly, we all shared the inspiring hope and Afro-centric solutions for a better world rooted in our rich history, creativity, resilience, and collective agency. Hosting this important conference in Praia during Cabo Verde’s 50th anniversary of independence underscores our shared commitment to celebrating African (his)stories and emphasizing the crucial role of African knowledge in global dialogue. It serves as a powerful reminder of our common history and promising future.
In addition to the conference, 2025 marked significant milestones for ASAA, including the launch of our Pan-African Doctoral Fellowship Programme, supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. This initiative is a strategic investment in the future of African scholarship, aiding doctoral students across Africa and encouraging research grounded in African epistemologies, priorities, and realities. It is a concrete step toward addressing structural inequalities in global knowledge production and nurturing the growth of African scholars. Similarly, we celebrated the launch of Bokutani, ASAA’s African Studies Journal. Bokutani is more than just a regular journal; it is an intellectual platform dedicated to elevating African voices, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and promoting rigorous, African-centered research. I sincerely thank the editorial team, reviewers, and contributors for their dedication, which made this initiative possible.
Looking ahead, the Executive Committee aims to enhance ASAA’s governance and leadership by establishing a Council of Elders—respected senior scholars and practitioners who will provide counsel, institutional memory, and strategic advice. This body will anchor our growth in wisdom, continuity, and ethical stewardship. We hope to convene an extraordinary General Assembly online in 2025 to request your support for amending our Bylaws to accommodate this change.
In the coming months, we will consult with members on/and announce the 2027 Biennial Conference, including its theme and location. We also aim to expand the Executive Committee to include regional representatives, ensuring geographic representation across Africa and the Diaspora. This demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity, participation, and regional voices in ASAA governance.
We invite members to engage more with the Association by volunteering for ASAA committees and participating in our Association’s activities, as it thrives on shared responsibilities and ongoing member involvement. We also aim to improve communication by publishing a quarterly Newsletter that consistently covers activities, opportunities, publications, and debates shaping African Studies locally and globally.
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without you—our members. Your dedication, participation, mentorship, and faith in ASAA’s mission keep this Association growing stronger and thriving each year. Together, we are fostering a lively, inclusive, and intellectually autonomous African studies community that confidently addresses the realities of Global Africa and reclaims our sovereign aspirations for a dignified and abundant life.
As we prepare for 2026, may this time of reflection renew our sense of purpose and strengthen our spirit of solidarity. The challenges before us remain complex, yet our collective capacity to respond with clarity, courage, and imagination remains strong. I look forward to continuing this journey with you — advancing rigorous inquiry, ethical engagement, and transformative knowledge for the benefit of Africa, its diasporas, and the wider world.
Merci, Thank you, Obrigado, Asante Sana, and best wishes to all.
With heartfelt gratitude and a renewed sense of hope,
Prof. Toussaint Murhula Kafarhire, S.J.
President
The African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA)