Congratulations Spring 2026 AFEE Recipients!
The Center for African Studies at Howard University Center for African Studies is proud to announce and celebrate the latest recipients of the Academic Faculty Enhancement and Enrichment (AFEE). The AFEE program supports innovative faculty research and course development that deepen engagement with Africa and the African diaspora while advancing the Center’s mission of interdisciplinary scholarship and global connection.
This year’s awardees represent a dynamic range of projects that expand both curriculum and research. Sipho Sithole will develop a new course and accompanying book exploring the intersection of religion and culture in Zulu society, highlighting the balance between tradition and modernity. Kebhuma Langmia focuses on critically rethinking research methodologies by advancing approaches that move beyond Eurocentric frameworks and better reflect African realities. Nathan Alexander will lead a pilot project examining African diaspora literacies through experiential learning, open-source technologies, and spatial data, connecting participants to global diasporic histories and communities.
Several awardees are also developing new courses that will enrich academic offerings. Amsale Alemu will design an undergraduate course linking African Studies with contemporary debates in artificial intelligence. Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi will create “Africa on Display: History, Culture, and Spectacle since the Nineteenth Century,” examining representations of Africa over time. Jody Benjamin will develop a course on the environmental and labor history of West Africa, broadening the scope of African historical studies at Howard.
Together, these projects reflect the intellectual vibrancy and forward-thinking vision of our Howard faculty. By fostering new research, innovative teaching, and critical perspectives, the AFEE program continues to strengthen Howard University’s leadership in African Studies and its commitment to shaping global scholarship.
Spring 2026 AFEE Recipients:
- Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi - New Course Development: Africa on Display: History, Culture and Spectacle since the Nineteenth Century
- Amsale Alemu - New Course Development: Introduction to AI and African Studies
- Nathan Alexander - Black Like Me: Exploring the Impact of Experiential Engagements, Open Source Technologies, and Spatial Data on African Diaspora Literacy
- Jody Benjamin - New Course Development: Environmental and Labor History of West Africa
- Kebhuma Langmia - Decolonizing Research methods in Africa
- Sipho Sithole - The Sacred and Secular System of the Zulu People: Intersectionality between Religion & Culture
Ania Ueno
Communications Director
Center for African Studies, Howard University