Renowned humanities scholar, Professor Toyin Falola, said African ancestry research would reconnect people with the past, shape the stories of the future and foster a deeper understanding of Africa’s diverse cultures and history.
In a statement on Monday, Falola said the AAS will be launched at the University of Ghana on October 15 during the 2024 Anton Wilhelm Lectures, held annually by the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa.
He will present in greater detail various aspects of African ancestry studies, focusing on the areas of genealogy and ancestral genealogy, cultural practices and traditions, governance, kingship and political institutions, spiritual and religious beliefs, historical studies, diaspora and identity, language and oral traditions, art and material culture, the intersection with African philosophy, African ancestry studies and modernity, indigenous knowledge, ancestry studies and popular culture, and the role of African ancestry studies in global Africa, from tracing ancestral lineages to recovering cultural knowledge and identity.
He added, “The idea of this new field has generated widespread enthusiasm as people explain its underlying foundations and multi-layered content. For those who want to teach the subject, Falola has prepared nearly 12 syllabi. In a series of interviews with journalists across Africa, he explains that the field will bring together themes and topics from the 12 fields to make it deeply African, helping to promote the idea of an African university rather than an African university. The AAS will blend ideas around what we traditionally call heritage, culture and identity.”
In a statement, Falola maintained that he was committed to ensuring that African ancestry studies became a vibrant and sustainable field of research.
“He believes it will inspire original research and have a transformative impact on both scholars and the community. By placing ancestry studies at the core of African scholarship, the AAS aims to participate in and contribute to ongoing debates in African studies.”
“As the world recognizes the importance of cultural heritage and identity, AAS is poised to play a pivotal role in reconnecting individuals with the past, shaping narratives of the future, and promoting a deeper understanding of Africa’s diverse cultures and histories. Its opening at the University of Ghana not only represents a new academic field, but is a significant step towards reclaiming and celebrating Africa’s ancestral heritage for generations to come,” it states in part.
The statement explained that Genealogy and Ancestry focuses on tracing genealogy and ancestral lines, “expanding knowledge about African family and kinship. This is achieved by incorporating oral history, genealogical research and the latest science of genetic testing.”
Cultural practices, indigenous knowledge and traditions. We deal with the cultural patterns and practices that characterize African societies. These include traditional music and dance, clothing and traditional rites of passage from birth and marriage to death. The preservation and understanding of these traditions is at the core of AAS.
Historical study reveals the circumstances under which Africans came to acquire their present culture, customs, traditions, etc.
“African history is typically divided into pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods, each of which has played a pivotal role in the formation of African societies. This refers to the distinct communities of people of African descent scattered around the world, primarily as a direct result of the slave trade, particularly across the Atlantic,” it reads.
