Established in January 2019 within the framework of the Excellence Strategy and building on the University of Bayreuth’s internationally recognized strength in African Studies, the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence advances an inter- and multidisciplinary comprehensive research agenda under the subtitle “Reconfiguring African Studies.” Originally comprising twenty-five Principal Investigators, the Cluster has grown into a globally connected research network of more than 160 scholars across four continents, representing a wide range of disciplines and collaborating with partner institutions in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
The Cluster’s central objective is to critically enhance African Studies through the development of theoretical approaches and experimental forms of academic collaboration in particular with African researchers. The strong trans- and interdisciplinary framework operationalizes in five Africa Multiple Research Centres (AMRCs) located at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University (Burkina Faso), the University of Lagos (Nigeria), Moi University (Kenya), Rhodes University (South Africa), and the University of Bayreuth, as well as through cooperation with the Centro de Estudos Afro-Orientais in Brazil. These centres serve as institutional hubs for collaborative knowledge production across geographic and epistemic boundaries.
Guided by the key concepts of multiplicity, relationality, and reflexivity, the Cluster’s current research is organized around six interrelated thematic fields, so-called research sections: accumulation, ecologies, digitalities, in/securities, re:membering, and translating. The Africa Multiple Academy and the ClICC Centre offer structures and opportunities for early career scholars, fellowships, digital and on-site training formats.

(Planned) Support Activities for Postdocs

Individual Career Planning, Consultation, and Coaching | Support in Academic Writing, Publishing, and Grant Applications | Financial Support for Presentations at International Conferences | Focus on Digital Literacy and Specialized Leadership Preparation | Research Management Positions Linked to Independent Research | Independent Junior Research Group

Recruiting

Open positions are listed on the cluster’s job page.

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