Harvard University Center for African Studies
CAS at UNGA: High-Profile Africa Convenings on the Sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly
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 Nations Global Compact and convened in partnership with the United Nations and the African Union, the convening took place September 20-21.
“CAS’s presence at UNGA 2026 reflects Harvard’s commitment to bringing rigorous scholarship and academic partnership into the global conversations shaping Africa’s future,” said Chidi Blyden, Executive Director of the Harvard Center for African Studies. “Our engagement in New York strengthens relationships and opens new opportunities for partnerships that connect African expertise and institutions with Harvard’s global academic community.”
News Stories
CAS at UNGA: High-Profile Africa Convenings on the Sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly
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
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 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
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...
Leaders Across Harvard’s African Student Organizations Gather at CAS Luncheon to Shape the Year Ahead
The Harvard Center for African Studies (CAS) recently hosted a Student Org Leaders’ Luncheon, bringing together presidents, chairs, and student leaders from across African organizations at Harvard. The gathering created space for reflection, leadership...
Harvard Center for African Studies and Brand South Africa to Host “Amapiano: A Cultural Export of Freedom” with Grammy-Winning Artist Zakes Bantwini
CAMBRIDGE, Massachussetts — The Harvard Center for African Studies, in partnership with Brand South Africa, will host “Amapiano: A Cultural Export of Freedom — Panel & Live Performance” on Friday, 8 May 2026. The public gathering convenes leading South...
Harvard Alumni and Students Visit African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa for High-Level Overview and Diaspora Linkage within the AU
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — A delegation of Harvard University alumni and students visited the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa for a high-level briefing on continental governance, peace and security, and the role of youth and the African...
Inaugural Middle East and Africa Harvard Alumni Summit – CAS Faculty Director Dr. Zoe Marks joins alumni and colleagues at newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt — Alumni, faculty, and regional leaders from across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond convened in Cairo for the Harvard Alumni Summit – Middle East and Africa 2026, held January 16–18 at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum. The Harvard...
Upcoming Events
CAS Hiring Intern (Deadline)
September 30, 2026
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All day
CAS Programs Assistant Internship Availability: September 28, 2026 – May 15, 2027 Hours: 10-20 hours per week Pay: $18-$22/hour Location: Cambridge, MA | Hybrid Eligibility: Harvard College Student, Federal Work Study Program Eligibility Required Summary...
CAS @ The Harvard Undergraduate International Opportunities Fair
October 2, 2026
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1:00PM - 4:00PM EDT
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Cabot Science Library, Science Center
The Harvard College International Opportunities Fair is an annual event designed to introduce undergraduates to a wide range of global experiences and funding options available during their time at Harvard. Students can meet with international centers and...
Harvard Kennedy School Master’s Degree Programs Information Session
October 6, 2026
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5:00PM - 7:00PM SAST
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CAS Africa Office
Join us at the Center for African Studies Africa Office in Johannesburg on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. for an interactive information session on Harvard Kennedy School’s master’s degree programs. Rod Lembvem, Assistant Director of...
Buna Break: Finding & Funding Internships + Late Night Study
October 6, 2026
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4:00PM - 9:00PM EDT
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CAS Lounge
Join us for Buna Break on Tuesday, October 6th, from 4-9pm ET. Buna Break provides a space for students to connect and recharge over coffee. Each Buna Break starts with student support programming (i.e. career advising sessions, panels, etc.) followed by...
Harvard Africa Mixer
October 15, 2026
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6:00PM - 8:00PM EDT
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Harvard Center for African Studies Lounge
Join us for this year's Harvard Africa Mixer, part of Worldwide Week at Harvard ! Our largest community event of the year, the Harvard Africa Mixer brings together students, fellows, and faculty from across Harvard who have a connection to or love of...
ASW - “Constitutional Self-Determination and the (Re)Making of International Law: Lessons from British Nigeria, 1949–1966” with Emmanuel Oyasande
October 26, 2026
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12:00PM - 1:30PM EDT
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Seminar Room - Harvard CAS
J oin us for the African Studies Workshop with Emmanuel Oyasande, Ph.D. Candidate in African and African American Studies and History at Harvard University. The workshop series provides a scholarly space for Africa-centered research, bringing together...
Faculty & Student Research Spotlights
Exploring Pathways for Sustainable Human-Lion Coexistence in Kenya
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
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
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
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
2025
Sarah Setlaelo and Chantelle Gray. 2025. “Special Issue on Mabogo Percy More”
Sarah Setlaelo and Chantelle Gray. 2025. “Special Issue on Mabogo Percy More”
Sarah Setlaelo. 2025. “Stella Nyanzi the Activist-Philosopher”
Sarah Setlaelo. 2025. “Stella Nyanzi the Activist-Philosopher”