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In a globalized world, language regiments the flow of knowledge. Against the background of its "difficult heritage", Afrikanistik as the study of African languages, literatures and texts is in a privileged position to mediate heterotopic and heterogeneous knowledge practices. We invite young scholars to recalibrate Afrikanistik with their innovative ideas in dialogue with African Studies.

Latest News

Grant Proposal Write-Up Capacity Building (03-04 April 2025)

“Recalibrating Afrikanistik” (RecAf) and the Graduate School Global and Area Studies (GSGAS), University of Leipzig, invite young researchers and lecturers working in the broader fields of African and Area Studies for a three-day workshop on the procedures of writing grant proposals.
Deadline for application: 23 March 2025

RecAf Forum - Poetry Works

In this session of the RecAf Forum on Language Work, Clarissa Vierke, Professor of Literatures in African Languages at the University of Bayreuth, will present on "Poetry Works".

AHYU Special Issue

As an outcome of the RecAf seasonal school in Abuja, AHYU (A JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE) recently published the special issue "Creativity in Language and Beyond".

Forum on (African) Language Work

Every first Tuesday of the Month, RecAf hosts the Forum on (African) Language Work highlighting diverse perspectives of and engagements with Language Workers.

Creative Writing: Learning a Language | Afrikanists Assemble | Episode 39

This month’s question is: “Please compose a creative contribution - either in poetry or prose - about the experience of learning a language. Recite it for us and remember to keep it under three minutes in total.”

RecAf Conference 2024 in Stellenbosch

Brady Blackburn reports on the RecAf Conference 2024, hosted by the Stellenbosch University.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - 2025/26 Fellowships

The “Recalibrating Afrikanistik” (RecAf) project invites young researchers and lecturers working in the field of African Studies to apply for fellowships at the participating universities, as well as ‘Remote Fellowships’.

Where are we heading?

  1. goal-1

    A critical debate about the history and objects of our discipline

  2. Languages, literatures and texts as situated knowledge practices

  3. Joint knowledge production with young scholars and six partner universities