Center for African Studies awards record number of summer FLAS fellowships

The Center for African Studies has awarded $190,000 in summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships to a record 20 undergraduate students to study African languages and cultures in four countries in Summer 2025. In addition to continuing its support of established study abroad programs for Zulu (South Africa) and Swahili (Kenya), the Center will achieve another milestone by supporting the return of Wolof (Senegal) and welcoming an inaugural program for Twi (Ghana). Through the Center’s support, the Akan Twi was first introduced in Spring 2024 and filled to capacity days after enrollment opened, owing to high demand.

FLAS Fellowships are made possible through a U.S. Department of Education grant. In addition to making  Howard University a FLAS Institution, the grant also designates the Center for African Studies as one of the nation’s National Resource Centers (NRCs), funded under Title VI of the Higher Education Act. It is the only NRC in an HBCU and the largest by enrollment in the sub-Saharan African languages it supports.

This summer’s FLAS Fellowship supports intensive language study abroad for students of various majors, including International Relations, Chemistry,  Computer Information Systems, Psychology, African American Studies, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Sociology, Broadcast Journalism, Health Education, Sports medicine, Political Science, Television and Film, and Criminology.

• Twi in Ghana. The Howard University Akan Twi Language & Cultural Immersion in Ghana (HUATG) program has seen six fellows travel to Ghana for a four-week study tour. Fellows: Ashley Agyeman, Chris Appiah, Joy, Asamoah, Ama Baffour, Ashlyn Larbi, and Ojo Madzimoyo.
• Wolof in Senegal. Two fellows will embark on a four-week study at the prestigious Western African Research Center in Dakar. Fellows: Shailai Jones and Fatimata Sall.
• Zulu in South Africa. The Howard University Zulu in South Africa (HUZISA) program sees seven fellows embark on a six-week study tour. Fellows: Amya Wright, Breanna Artis, Janasia Blake, Kaori Cannon, Brigette Lacroix, Ryen Reed, and Halaya Vann.
• Swahili in Kenya. The Howard University Swahili Study Abroad (HUSSA) program has five fellows embarking on a six-week study at Pwani University. Fellows: Nicole Blenman, Coryn Holmes, Sarah Karige, Melissa Mwangi, and Ny'Aja Roberson.

In an intensive program typically lasting six weeks, the Summer FLAS fellows complete a mandatory 120-140 hours of instruction. Each fellow receives $5,000 towards tuition, a $3,500 stipend, and a $1,000 travel grant.