The African Studies Center staff, the Dean of International Studies and Programs, Prof. Jeffrey Riedinger, and Prof. Robert Hitchock, chairperson of the Department of Anthropology, warmly welcome Professor James A. Pritchett to MSU as Director of the African Studies Center and full professor in the Department of Anthropology. Prof. Pritchett assumed these positions effective 1 January 2009. You may contact Prof. Pritchett at: pritch41@msu.edu or call the African Studies Center at (517) 353-1700.
Founded in 1960, the MSU African Studies Center (ASC) is one of nine Title VI National Resource Centers on Africa designated by the U.S. Department of Education. The Center’s strength is based upon the 160 MSU faculty who provide broad research, teaching, and service on the continent. MSU can offer instruction in 30 African languages, with 9-12 languages taught each year. Two Ph.D. African studies librarians staff the third largest Africana library in the nation. African Studies at MSU has been distinguished by its focus on Africa’s human needs - poverty alleviation, food security, education for development, environment and development, tropical disease, ethics of development, and gender equity.
For almost two decades, MSU graduate students have produced more Ph.D. dissertations on Africa than any other U.S. university, especially in history, social sciences, economics and agricultural economics, and education. Supported by Title VI FLAS Fellowships, MSU Africa studies graduate students are immensely successful in national competitions for dissertation research awards such as in the Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays DDRA, and other competitions.
The African Media Program (AMP) offers an online, comprehensive database of more than 14,000 films, videos, and other audio-visual materials concerning Africa. Designed especially for teachers at all levels, it includes links to distributors.
The Afrobarometer is an MSU-based project collaborating with African social scientists to conduct surveys in 18 African countries on sociopolitical and economic attitudes in Africa. Its data is shared with decision-makers, civic educators, journalists, and African communities in an effort to increase democratization and civic participation.
The African e-Journals Project offers free access to back issues of 10 African journals, a database of more than 1,900 journals on Africa, tables of contents of contemporary journals, and links to current African journals online.
MSU's faculty and graduate students are conducting research or working for development in 39 of Africa's 54 countries. Beginning in a partnership with Nigerians in 1960 to build one of the first two land-grant, development-oriented universities in Africa, the faculty has built a record of world-class research focused on the human needs of Africa and Africa's unique cultural heritage.
MSU provides undergraduates with a unique opportunity to focus on America’s roots continent - with:
Weekly announcements and listings of fellowships, jobs, and internships.
Upcoming events include:
"Exploring Logistics Complexity among African Nations: A Macro Perspective" - Thur., Feb. 11th, talk with Anthony Ross, Faculty (Supply Chain Management, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 201 Int'l Ctr.
"International Climate Change Research Forum" - Fri., Feb. 12th, Discussion with MSU professors: Jennifer Olson (Telecomm, Info Studies Media); Jiaguo Qi (Geo & Ctr for Global Change & Earth Observations); Jinhua Zhao (Econ. & Ag, Food & Resource Economics)and David Skole (Forestry & Global Observator for Ecosystem Svcs), noon, to 2:00 p.m., Rm 303 Int'l Ctr.
"The Somali Catastrophe: What Lessons for the Rest of the Horn of Africa?" - Thur., Feb. 18th, talk with Ahmed Samatar, Faculty (Macalester College, Minnesota), 12:00 noon, Room 201 Int'l Ctr.
"The Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Refugees, Causes of Conflict, and What Continues to Sustain it" - Thur., Feb. 18th, Amnesty International presentation with Prof. Barry N. Stein (Political Science, MSU) and Prof. Kenneth Harrow (English, MSU and country specialists for Amnesty Int'l); 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., MSU Union, Lake Huron Room.
MSU Museum:'Dear Mr. Mandela, Dear Ms. Parks: Children's Letters, Global Lessons'
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See news article
See Obama message to Mandela
African Studies Center Prominent Africanist Lecture Series Lecturer: Oyeronke Oyewumi, Associate Professor of Sociology, SUNY, and author of The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses, speaking on: "Sarah Palin’s ‘Witch Pastor’: African Intellectuals and Gender in a Global Age." Sponsored by the African Studies Center, Center for Gender in Global Context, and James Madison College.
Feb. 25, 2010 - 5:30-7:00pm; Kellogg Center, Room 105 A/B
African Studies Center Prominent Africanist Lecture Series Lecturer: Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, Dean and Professor of History, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA and author of Barack Obama and African Diasporas, speaking on: "African Diasporas: Toward a Global History." Sponsored by the African Studies Center, Department of History, African American and African Studies Department, and James Madison College.
Mar. 26, 2010 - 5:00-7:00pm; 3rd Floor, International Studies and Programs
Contact the Center for Outreach Programs on Africa
Recruiting Michigan teachers for study tour of Tanzania, Summer 2010.
More Information and Application
Explore Africa at MSU - Explore Africa at MSU is a residential program designed for academically talented high school students (entering grades 10, 11, and 12) who would like to become immersed in learning about the tremendous diversity found within the continent of Africa.
Exploring Africa - A rich online curriculum for middle and high school students and teachers.