Research Priorities

Languages, Literature, History and Culture

The members of the Institute for African Studies are all engaged in teaching as well as in scholarly research. The main focus of the research projects and the contents of the teaching units lays on languages spoken in countries south of the Sahara. Within the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen this scientific discipline is represented only at the Institut für Afrikanistik of the University to Cologne.

“Afrikanistik” is the study of African languages and cultures by applying linguistic methods and approaches. Accordingly basics of linguistics, especially the phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax, as well as sociolinguistics are taught with an emphasis on African languages. In addition, the Institute offers language courses on various major African languages, such as Swahili, Bambara, and Hausa.

The study of languages is a key also to the study of culture, thus Afrikanistik is not restricted to linguistics. The wide scope of topics covered in the teaching and research of the Institute is reflected in the courses offered, which deal with topics touching on neighboring disciplines, such as ethnology, history, political science, and oral and written literature.

(Prof. Dr. Gerrit J.Dimmendaal)

African Culture and History

Modern approaches are applied to the study of African culture and history. Main fields of in this respect are the generation of knowledge on the history of the continent. Contemporary African art and African philosophy are studies against the background of globalization processes; specific forms of local annexation and transformation are highlighted. The topics in this field include "popular" culture, modern technical media (such as local video production, local photography), war and power (z. B. modern forms of the slavery), gender relations, as well as "new" religions in Africa. The courses offered in this field aim at disseminating knowledge on modern African cultures and on current developments in African societies and states.

Furthermore, knowledge produced by non-African scholars, are critically reviewed. Monographs on African topics written by western ethnographers must also take to cultures of the scholars into account. Knowledge on Africa must therefore be treated as "relational" knowledge and must reflected against the background of western scholarly interests, scientific methods, theories, institutions, media, representation modes and power relations.

(Prof. Dr. Heike Behrend)