Africa Research Group

What kind of doctoral research on, in and with Africa takes place at King’s College London? How do our students critically reflect on the benefits and challenges of research in the continent?

As part of Africa Week 2024, The Africa Research Group hosts an annual PhD forum to answer these questions and more with a showcase of some of the latest PhD work on Africa from across the College.

The event takes place in person and features presentations by King' students from various departments and academic disciplines. They will introduce their PhD research – from the early stages to near completion – with the opportunity for feedback and interaction with the audience.

This event is free and open to all

Africa Research Forum 2024 What kind of doctoral research on, in and with Africa takes place at King’s College London?

We're delighted to invite you to a series of online and in-person events hosted by King's as part of our annual Africa Week, co-hosted by the Africa Research Group in the Department of War Studies, and the African Leadership Centre, School of Global Affairs.
The week is an opportunity to hear from African scholars, leaders and thinkers, as well as a chance to highlight King’s College London’s research collaboration with African institutions and colleagues.

Join us from 4 - 8 March to discuss this year’s theme of "Owning agency: Africa’s future and evolving path in the world."

Africa Week | King’s College London Africa Week is an annual celebration of research, education and outreach activities on Africa. It brings together academics, researchers and students from across King's – and offers the opportunity to hear from African scholars, leaders and thinkers.

There's still time to register for our event tomorrow - Youth Gangs in Urban Africa: Research Findings and Implications
30 November 2023, 12:30 to 14:00

Chair: Katy Thornton, King’s College London

Panellists:
Prof Ibrahim Abdullah, Fourah Bay College
Dr Guy Lamb, University of Stellenbosch
Dr Kieran Mitton, King’s College London
Prof Ayodeji Olukoju, University of Lagos

More details and tickets:

Youth Gangs in Urban Africa: Research Findings and Implications This discussion will showcase research based on recent fieldwork in Cape Town, Lagos, and Freetown.

States of Crisis? Contemporary West African Politics
Fri 27 Oct 2023 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM BST
Room K1.28, King’s Building, WC2R 2LS

Following recent coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, and contested claims of vote rigging in Nigerian and Sierra Leonean elections, there is a growing sense that West Africa has entered a new phase of so-called ‘democratic backsliding’ and political instability. In this panel event, three highly experienced experts offer reflections on recent developments and apparent trends in the region, providing insight into local contexts and broader implications.

To what extent are impressions of failing democracy accurate? What are the implications for the regional bloc ECOWAS, which has warned of military action but so far proven unable to impose its will? And internationally, where does the apparent withering of French influence, or the growth of Russian presence, fit into the story? This panel event provides an opportunity for informed discussion on these pressing issues, and will include Q&A with the audience.

Speakers

Professor Alex Vines - Head of Africa Programme at Chatham House
Dr Pascal Carlucci - Former Advisor for EUCAP Sahel-Niger
Dr Folahanmi Aina - SOAS
Dr Maja Bovcon - Verisk Maplecroft

Chair: Dr Flavia Gasbarri, Senior Lecturer in War Studies Education
Discussant: Dr Kieran Mitton, Reader in Conflict, Security and Development

Join the guestlist – States of Crisis? Contemporary West African Politics – Room K1.28, King’s Building Following recent coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, and contested claims of vote rigging in Nigerian and Sierra Leonean el...

Join us on in-person on Thursday 3rd March for our annual Africa PhD Research Forum. KCL students will discuss their research and latest findings. A great chance to meet staff and students working on Africa-related topics!

Presentations:
- Amarachi Iheke - For the vanquished: Examining post-conflict reconciliation in the 1967 1970 Nigeria-Biafra conflict.

- Yawen Li, Dept of Comparative Literature: Postcolonial Literature and the Ungrievable Loss of the One Child Nation.

- Katy Thornton, Dept of War Studies: Youth culture and warscapes; research through images.

- Ribka Metaferia, Dept of War Studies: Ethnicity, Cities and Spatial Relations in Federal Ethiopia.

- Lorraine Charbonnier, Dept of War Studies: A tale of two stories: scarcity, failure and the representation of ‘farmer-herder conflicts in West Africa and the Sahel.

Africa Research Forum 2022 This year's forum will take place in person and features presentations by King's College London students and Africa Research group.

"Rethinking colonial warfare: Epistemic freedom and art as decolonial resistance"
- join us for this fascinating online & in-person panel discussion organised by ARG coordinator Amarachi Iheke
4th March - 16:00 - full details below.

Rethinking colonial warfare: Epistemic freedom and art as decolonial resistance Join us to explore colonial warfare in Africa and how anti-colonial resistance shaped it's future.

Please join us online at 2pm on Wed 9th March for the launch of "Africa in Global History." Featuring a stellar panel including the book's editors and our own Dr Flavia Gasbarri
https://kcl.ac.uk/events/africa-in-global-history-book-launch