Department of African Cultural Studies

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Department of African Cultural Studies Researching and teaching the languages & cultures of Africa and Africans around the world since 1964.

The Department of African Cultural Studies is a unique program, centered on Africa and its languages and cultures, and has been an interdisciplinary department since its inception. Our faculty are research specialists in African languages and the literatures and cultures expressed in those languages, and our graduate students train in critical applied linguistics, literary studies, cultural studies, and language pedagogy. A cornerstone of the African Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we also train specialists of Africa from fields such as anthropology, history, and political science, and draw on these other departments and fields in our own research and training.

Today we celebrated our graduating students—their hard work, their resilience, and the paths they’ve shaped during their...
05/09/2026

Today we celebrated our graduating students—their hard work, their resilience, and the paths they’ve shaped during their time here.

Surrounded by the faculty, staff, alumni, families, and friends who have supported them along the way, we marked not just an ending, but the beginning of what comes next. Congratulations, graduates—you will be missed, and you will be remembered. 🎓🦡

🎬✨ Last week, the annual African Languages Film Festival brought stories, languages, and cultures to life at UW-Madison....
05/07/2026

🎬✨ Last week, the annual African Languages Film Festival brought stories, languages, and cultures to life at UW-Madison. Hosted by the Department of African Cultural Studies, the festival celebrated the creativity and talent of students working in Arabic, Swahili, Yoruba, Hausa, and Sierra Leonean Creole.

From powerful storytelling to vibrant cultural expression, each short film highlighted the beauty of African languages and the importance of student voices in fostering cross-cultural understanding. 🌍🎥

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an inspiring evening of community, creativity, and cinema.

Behind every student studying African cultures, languages, and creative expression is a moment that made it possible.A r...
04/14/2026

Behind every student studying African cultures, languages, and creative expression is a moment that made it possible.

A research opportunity. A trip abroad. A chance to present their work. A scholarship that opened the door.

At UW–Madison, students in African Cultural Studies engage in bold, interdisciplinary research—working across African literature, film, language, and cultural traditions. Their work expands knowledge of the continent and deepens how we understand culture, history, and global connection.

Through the Aliko Songolo Student Research Award Fund—established in honor of Professor Emeritus Aliko Songolo and his lasting impact on our community—students are able to pursue these transformative summer research opportunities.

From now until 5:00 p.m. CDT tomorrow, your gift directly supports these opportunities. Every contribution helps expand access to hands-on research and ensures that African perspectives continue to shape and inspire future scholarship.

If it matters to you, we invite you to be part of it.

Give at the link in our bio or visit: https://dayofthebadger.org/campaign/african-cultural-studies/





Address

1410 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI
53706

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+16082622487

Website

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