University of Leipzig - Institute for African Studies

100 years of scientific study of Africa in Leipzig led to the establishment of the Insitute for African Studies. From the very beginning, Leipzig’s research on Africa was characterised by multi-disciplinarity.

Still today, the Institute is following a broad understanding of area studies. In order to understand the continent’s cultural, historical, political, social and linguistic conditions in the present and past (with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa), the Insitute privileges a combination of humanities and the social sciences. Thus, teaching and research at the Institute of African Studies is made up of three fields: African Languages and Literatures, History and Culture in Africa, Society, Politics and Economy.