Harvard University Center for African Studies | Harvard University Center for African Studies

H.E. Obasanjo—Former President of Nigeria, Africa’s Elder Statesman, and the African Union’s High Representative to the Horn of Africa—visits CAS

Drawing on more than six decades of experience in peacekeeping and diplomacy, President Obasanjo reflected on conflicts across the continent, from Sudan and Ethiopia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The CAS student conversation with H.E. Obasanjo emphasized the role of students and the African diaspora in shaping the continent’s future. The evening JFK Forum explored the importance of African leadership and international partnerships, the need to include women in peace negotiations, and the value of subsidiarity and regional support in peace and mediation.

Read the "Student Lens" reflection from the visit

News Stories

Student Lens: Reflections from H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo's Visit to CAS

October 26, 2026

Cambridge - On October 20, the Harvard Center for African Studies hosted former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo for a fireside chat coordinated by the Nigerian Students Association (NSA). The former president was at Harvard to discuss peacekeeping...

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio at the JFK Jr. Forum: Africa and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

October 09, 2026

Cambridge - On October 29, the Harvard University Center for African Studies, with the Institute of Politics and the Center for International Development, welcomed His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, to the John F...

CAS convenes a Faculty Research Roundtable with Harvard Professors and Key Ministers of Sierra Leone

October 07, 2026

Cambridge, Mass. — On October 29, the Harvard University Center for African Studies welcomed His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, for a Harvard visit that included a welcome motorcade and flag ceremony with the...

Student Lens: Reflections from Sierra Leone’s Presidential Visit to Harvard and CAS

October 07, 2026

By Wantoe Teah Wantoe Harvard Graduate School of Education | Master’s Candidate, Education Policy & Analysis Last week, I had the privilege of helping co-organize H.E. Julius Maada Bio’s, President of Sierra Leone, visit to Harvard; specifically, a...

CAS at UNGA: High-Profile Africa Convenings on the Sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly

September 25, 2026

NEW YORK CITY — The Harvard Center for African Studies (CAS) attended the Global Africa Business Initiative’s (GABI) annual Unstoppable Africa 2026 convening before the 81st United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City. Hosted by the United...

Welcome to the 2026-2027 Academic Year

September 01, 2026

Dear friends and colleagues, Welcome to a new academic year at Harvard's Center for African Studies! We hope you’ve had a restorative summer and are excited for the many programs, events, and research and learning opportunities in the months ahead. Africa...

Chidi Blyden Hired as New Executive Director of Harvard Center for African Studies

August 31, 2026

August 31, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cambridge, Mass. — The Harvard University Center for African Studies (CAS) has hired Chidi Blyden as the new Executive Director, bringing to the Center a deeply impactful career in public service and private...

Six projects chosen for Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa

June 15, 2026

The Motsepe Fund was established in 2020 to support faculty-led and student-driven research projects that focus on advancing key challenges and opportunities facing Africa, with a focus on projects falling within the STEAM rubric (the application of the...

Upcoming Events

Buna Break: African Language Tables

November 3, 2026

4:00PM - 9:00PM EST

Harvard CAS Lounge

In Person

Are you thinking about taking an African language next year? Have you already studied one at Harvard, or do you speak one at home? Maybe there’s simply a language you’ve always wanted to learn. Join NSA and the Harvard Center for African Studies for a...

Financing Africa’s Future with the CEO of Ghana's Gold Board

November 6, 2026

4:30PM - 6:00PM EST

Harvard CAS Lounge

In Person

Join the Harvard University Center for African Studies for Financing Africa’s Future: Innovation, Investment, and Inclusive Growth, a conversation with Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). Using Ghana as a case study, the discussion...

Who You Know, Who You Recommend: Referrals and Occupational Gender Segregation in Uganda.

November 9, 2026

12:00PM - 1:30PM EST

CAS Seminar Room

Hybrid

Join us for an African Studies Workshop with Livia Alfonsi, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, presenting Who You Know, Who You Recommend: Referrals and Occupational Gender Segregation in Uganda . Pia Raffler...

Faculty & Student Research at CAS

Exploring Pathways for Sustainable Human-Lion Coexistence in Kenya

August 12, 2025

Faculty Research Spotlight: Andrew Davies Andrew Davies, Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (FAS), was a 2023 recipient of the Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa . The Motsepe Fund is made possible by a...

Improving Livelihoods for Smallholder Coffee Farmers in Ethiopia

August 11, 2025

Student Research Spotlight: Katie Chen and Vaibhav Parik The Harvard Center for African Studies offers funding to Harvard graduate students traveling to Africa for thesis or dissertation research or for fieldwork connected to an academic project. At the...

Bridging Education and Technology: Exploring Rwanda’s School Data Management System

June 23, 2025

Below is the written report from HGSE student, Ayo Arowolo, who travelled to Rwanda for her research project in Spring 2025.

The Role of Food Vendors in School Food Environments: A Qualitative Study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

August 26, 2024

The Harvard Center for African Studies offers funding to Harvard graduate students traveling to Africa for thesis or dissertation research or for fieldwork connected to an academic project. At the end of their CAS-sponsored travels, students must submit a...

Journals, Research, & Working Papers

This new section highlights recent outputs from the Harvard University Center for African Studies, featuring journals, research contributions, and working papers generated through CAS conferences, workshops, and symposia. It offers a curated space for showcasing emerging scholarship, ongoing intellectual projects, and newly released papers that reflect the breadth of academic work across the continent and the global African diaspora.

Working Paper

Ph.D OYERONKE OLADEMO. 2025. “Yoruba Studies and Technology: Prospects and Challenges (Folorunso Alakija Religion and Public Life Distinguished Lecture - August 2025)”

Yemi Osinbajo. 2025. “Vice President of Nigeria, H.E. Yem Osinbajo Transcript for Keynote Address (Folorunso Alakija Religion and Public Life - August 2025 Gala Night)”

Transcript for Keynote Ad...

Transcript for Keynote Ad...

2025

Sarah Setlaelo and Chantelle Gray. 2025. “Special Issue on Mabogo Percy More”

Sarah Setlaelo. 2025. “Stella Nyanzi the Activist-Philosopher”