Overview
The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, in collaboration with the Open Society Foundations, announces its annual fellowship program themed, “Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition.” The program will convene scholars or practitioners interested in restitution and repatriation issues related to African art and artifacts. By fostering dialogue and research, the fellowship aims to shed light on this critical issue and contribute to meaningful progress in returning looted artifacts to their rightful homes in Africa.
The Africa Institute at Global Studies University is pleased to announce its annual fellowship program, organized in collaboration with the Open Society Foundations, under the theme “Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition.” This initiative supports scholars and practitioners working on issues related to the restitution and repatriation of African art and artifacts.
This fellowship program aligns with The Africa Institute’s broader mission to foster critical thinking and dialogue around African and African diaspora studies. By bringing diverse voices and perspectives together, the program promises to advance crucial conversations about cultural heritage, historical accountability, and the path toward a more just future.
The program will run over the course of three academic semesters, beginning September 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2026. The fellowship program aims to host three expert fellows at different stages in their careers over a year-and-half period (Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Fall 2026).
About Open Society Foundations
The Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, are the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights. Visit opensocietyfoundations.org for more.
Applicant Criteria
Applicants must demonstrate a clear scholarly focus on restitution, repatriation, and reparation of cultural heritage, particularly in the context of Africa and African diaspora, and the post-colonial condition. Preference will be given to scholars whose work bridges multiple disciplines or engages diverse methodologies to explore the theme. The research must be original, feasible within the fellowship duration, and impactful for ongoing and future debates around restitution and reparations. Awarded fellows are required to submit a publishable paper or chapter based on their fellowship research as part of the final publication by the end of the fellowship program.
Research Project topics may include, but are not limited to:
- The historical and contemporary debates on cultural restitution and reparation
- Case studies of looted artifacts, human remains, or cultural heritage
- The role of Western institutions (museums, archives, universities, etc.) in perpetuating or addressing colonial legacies
- Neo-nationalist policies and campaigns for repatriation and restitution
- The impact of racial reparations and lessons for cultural restitution
