African Studies
Understanding Contemporary Realities, Imagining Global Futures
African Studies
Ohio University's African Studies Program explores the African continent's emerging aspirations and trajectories in the 21st century. The program was founded in 1964 amidst the excitement emanating from the decolonization of the continent and the awareness of the important role Africa could play in world affairs.
Today, we examine African futures through research on political and economic developments, medical and technological innovations, sociocultural transformations, literary and artistic productions, and environment and sustainability initiatives.
By focusing on themes of dynamism and resiliency in relation to African and African diasporic peoples, this program prepares students for careers in international development, diplomacy and foreign affairs, business and entrepreneurship, academic research, cultural and creative industries, environmental and sustainability consulting, non-profit management, technology and innovation, and media and journalism.
Study Africa: Degrees & Languages
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Graduate Degrees & Certificates
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Undergraduate Degrees & Certificates
Bachelor's Degree
Undergraduate Certificates
Study Africa: Here or Abroad
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Africa@OHIO Colloquium Series
The Africa@OHIO Colloquium Series features events and activities that involve faculty, students and staff of the African Studies Program.
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CIS Thursday Forum
The CIS Thursday Forum is a weekly series focusing on international research, scholarship and creative activity for the OHIO community.
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Study Abroad in Africa
Graduate and undergraduate students can find opportunities in a variety of countries. OHIO faculty-led programs include:
OHIO's Renowned African Studies Program
Our African Studies Program is one of the leading African Studies programs in the United States. It has built its strong international reputation by actively recruiting and training students from diverse African nations in various academic and professional fields — notably education, history, political science, media, arts, and public health.
The program was recognized as a Department of Education National Resource Center (NRC) until 2014, and it has made significant contributions to teaching African languages training African language teachers in the United States.
OHIO faculty are currently pursuing academic research and educational development projects in Botswana, Ghana, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, and Tanzania. At OHIO, Alden Library reflects and enables these research interests with its extensive Africana holdings, including a unique collection of manuscripts in the Tigrinya language, and other indigenous language texts. It is the North American Depository for documents from Botswana and Swaziland.
Ohio University Press is recognized as a global leader in African Studies, publishing prominent and award-winning African writings and books on African history, literature, anthropology and politics since the 1960s.
Global Partners
The African Studies Program is proud of OHIO's recent and current partnerships and collaborations with universities and organizations around the world.
Botswana
- Botha University
- Botswana Ministry of Health
- University of Botswana
Ethiopia
- Woldia University
Ghana
- Garden City University College
- Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
- University of Cape Coast
- University of Ghana
Great Britain
The OHIO African Studies Program is proud to partner with the University of London SOAS Global Council on Linguistic and Cultural Anthropology (GLOCAL). SOAS GLOCAL is at the center of a global network of scholarship on Linguistic Anthropology, Sociolinguistics, and Language and Society.
Kenya
- Kenyatta University
- National Museums of Kenya
Rwanda
- University of Rwanda
Senegal
- University Cheikh Anta Diop
- West African Research Center
Sierra Leone
- University of Sierra Leone
South Africa
- University of Johannesburg
- University of Western Cape
Tanzania
- University of Dar es Salaam
The Gambia
- University of The Gambia
Research & Expertise about Africa
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Faculty Research Areas: Africa
Center for International Research faculty have expertise in many research areas about Africa, from medicine to performing arts.
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African Studies Library Research Guide
This research guide is designed to help you find library resources on African Studies. It describes local library resources as well as selected Internet resources. Use it to find books, articles, statistics, news items, internet resources and other information.
Araba Dawson-Andoh is OHIO's African Studies librarian.
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Ohio University Press: African Studies
The Athens campus is also home to Ohio University Press, a global leader in African Studies, publishing African writing and books on African history, religion, politics, and more.
In the 1960s, President Vernon Alden and others founded the press to increase the university’s national prominence and support scholarly research in the region.
While the Center for International Studies started publishing monographs in the Africa Studies series in the 1960s, by 1983 Ohio University Press had positioned itself to focus on the field of African Studies as a significant part of its program.
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Ohio University Press Africa Series
Africa in World History, edited by Todd Cleveland and Melissa Graboyes
Cambridge Centre of African Studies Series, edited by Devon Curtis and Emma Hunter
Modern Africa Studies, edited by Ainehi Edoro
New African Histories, edited by Jacob S. T. Dlamini, Allen F. Isaacman, Derek R. Peterson, Carina Ray
Ohio Short Histories of Africa, edited by Daniel Magaziner, Michelle R. Moyd, Moses Ochonu and Carina Ray
Research in International Studies, Africa Series, edited by Thomas Smucker
War and Militarism in African History, edited by Alicia C. Decker and Giacomo Macola
Fulbright-Hays grant will take Ohio educators to Ghana
The four-week trip strengthens existing ties between OHIO and the West African region.
Contact Us
African Studies Faculty Directory
Director: Dr. Ghirmai Negash
African Studies Program
Yamada International House
56 E. Union St.
Athens, Ohio 45701
Email: negashg@ohio.edu or international.studies@ohio.edu
Telephone: 740-593-1832
Yamada International House is on Ohio University College Green, at the top of Jefferson Hill and near Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
We invite you to stop into our office during normal business hours to learn more about the African Studies program, as well as our other international programs.