Wits strengthens African scholarship through global engagement
- Wits University
A delegation of Wits academics provided critical perspectives about African studies at a recent conference in the US.
Several Witsies took part in panel discussions at the 68th African Studies Association (ASA) Conference, held on 20-24 November 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA under the broad theme: Crossing Boundaries and Recovering Intellectual Traditions.
This year’s theme reflected on the politics of knowledge in African studies with the view of interrogating the structural inequalities and erasures that continue to exist within African studies; and to probe the relevance of African studies for Africa and the world.
The conference took place against the backdrop of what organisers described as a growing onslaught on research and diversity, particularly in the United States. As a result, discussions offered forward-looking perspectives on the contemporary global condition, with a strong focus on Africa. View programme.
Associate Professor Brett Pyper co-chaired a roundtable titled Reimagining the Arts and Humanities in our universities through the #[…] Project , where Wits scholars Drs Kgomotso Moshugi and Nicola Cloete joined panelists from Emory University.
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Mucha Musemwa, who also serves on the ASA Board of Directors (2022–2025), participated in two panel discussions.
The Wits contingent, comprising early to middle career and senior academics, presented strong arguments across several panels. A number of Wits scholars were also recognised with awards for their contributions.
Recognition for Emerging Scholars
Among Wits’ key achievements was the awarding of the ASA Samora and Grace Machel Fellowship to Dr Khumisho Moguerane, a historian of European empire in southern Africa. She is also the winner of the 2025 Sunday Times Literary Award for Non-Fiction for her acclaimed book Morafe: Person, Family and Nation in Colonial Bechuanaland, 1880s–1950s, which has been described as a “historical landmark” and a “watershed in the direction of African studies”.
The fellowship supports exceptional scholarship and academic exchange opportunities for Africa-based scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
In addition, six Wits academics received funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY), enabling Africa-based scholars to attend and present at the ASA annual meeting as CCNY Fellows. These fellows become ASA members and are an integral part of the ASA Emerging Scholars Network community. The awardees are Dr Kofi Aning Jnr, Dr Tamia Bianca Botes, Dr Naeema Ahmed Ramadan Hussein El Kout, Associate Professor Neo Ligaraba, Associate Professor Hlengiwe Ndlovu and Dr Zamageda Zungu. These scholars are from a range of fields and drawn from difference faculties.
Wits will continue playing a significant role in the association through the fellows and Dr Prinisha Badassy, who was recently elected to ASA’s highest decision-making body as a member of the Board of Directors.
足球竞彩app排名 the African Studies Association (ASA)
Established in 1957 and based in the United States, the Association aims to deepen understanding of the African continent by supporting path-breaking research and facilitating interdisciplinary engagement with African scholars and institutions. The ASA annual conference is the largest gathering of Africanist scholars in the world and serves as the association’s flagship event.