The Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD)

A reminder that the African Studies Association (ASA) is hosting the 18th Century Africa Publishing Fellowship and is extending its Call for Papers to ASWAD Members.

To submit, please review the guidelines sent to you via email. Currently registered members are encouraged to apply and the dude date is Friday March 14, 2026

WHAT WE
STAND TO LOSE
March 5, 2026 - 7 pm ET

On February 12, a 30-minute Zoom call ended 50 years of struggle. The University of Texas at Austin announced the consolidation and effective dismantling of its African and African Diaspora Studies department. It was the beginning of a domino effect that has now seen 31 universities cut ties with a program designed to increase the PhD pipeline for students of color-eliminating one of the most effective pathways for diversifying the academy.

The P. Sterling Stuckey Book Prize annually acknowledges books published in English submitted by or on behalf of a scholar, activist, and/or artist who has at least one previous single-authored book or comparable work. Nominated books must be on topics related to the study of the worldwide African diaspora. The award committee will consider books on any period from any discipline that examines the people and/or physical environment of Africa and/or its diaspora. The committee is particularly interested in books that are methodologically and conceptually innovative and represent literary excellence. Funding for the prize is made possible by a substantial contribution from an anonymous donor.

The Finalists for the 2025 P. Sterling Stuckey Book Prize are:
The Driver's Story, Randy M. Browne
Combee: Edda L. Fields-Black
The Second Battle for Africa Erik S. McDuffie
Bounds of Blackness, Christopher Tounsel

The Rosalyn Terborg-Penn Book Prize annually honors an exceptional single-authored book focused on gender and sexuality in Africa and/or the African diaspora submitted by or on behalf of a scholar, activist, and/or artist. The award committee will consider books on any period and from any discipline published in English and is particularly interested in books that are methodologically and conceptually innovative and demonstrate academic excellence. Funding for the prize is made possible by a substantial contribution from four anonymous donors.

The Finalists for the 2025 Rosalyn Terborg-Penn Book Prize are:

If Books Fail, Try Beauty by Brooke Bocast
Geographies of Relation, Theresa Delgadillo

Announcing the Finalists for the 2025 First Book Prize
The Outstanding First Book Prize annually honors a single-authored book focused on Africa and/or the African diaspora submitted by or on behalf of a scholar, activist, and/or artist who has not previously published a single-authored monograph. The award committee will consider books on any period and from any discipline published in English and is particularly interested in books that are methodologically and conceptually innovative and demonstrate academic excellence. Funding for the prize is made possible by a substantial contribution from an anonymous donor.

The Finalists for the 2025 Outstanding First Book Prize are:
Imagine Lagos, Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi
The Color Black, Beeta Baghoolizadeh
Captive Cosmopolitans, Mary Hicks

Announcing the Finalists for the 2025 Outstanding Article Prize
The Article Prize annually honors an outstanding peer-reviewed article focused on Africa and/or the African diaspora. The award committee will consider scholarly articles focused on any period and from any discipline published in English and is particularly interested in publications that are methodologically and conceptually innovative and demonstrate academic excellence.

Dear ASWAD Members, please check your inboxes! This year we have open places on our board. We are happy to announce that seven ASWAD members have agreed to stand for election to fill these positions. Ahead of the election ballot we are sharing their candidate statements for your review. Details can be found in the email sent out to active members. More details for follow on the coming days.

Imani/Faith
We welcome the new year with all of the people we share a community with.
For today and the rest of the year, we believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
May the guide you and provide your with inspiration in 2026

Kuumba/Creativity
On this last day of the year, we celebrate the sixth day of Kwanzaa and make a commitment to do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Habari Gani?
Tonight, we are thinking of ways to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Ujamaa / Cooperative Economics
For the fourth day of Kwanzaa, we encourage each other to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.