Welcome to the website of the Department of Africana Studies.
The Department of Africana Studies at Rutgers University, as one of the nation's first, has provided instruction in African
languages for over three decades as a distinguishing feature of its curriculum. The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) has recently
proposed to create a new Department of African, Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Literatures beginning Fall 2008. Because
such a proposal would have a substantial impact on the Africana Studies curriculum, the faculty is currently beginning a series of
discussions to ensure that the discipline of Africana Studies continue as a vital part of Rutgers University. Updates will be posted on
this website. Keep checking in as we
continue to work to bring you the very best in Africana Studies.
Dr. Ousseina Alidou is the recipient of the 2005-06 Rutgers Board of
Trustees Fellowship for Excellence in Research. She is one of only eight awardees university-wide representing the most outstanding academic profiles of all tenure candidates, and this award is in conjunction with her promotion to tenured Associate Professor. Dr.Alidou recently chaired the annual conference of the African Language Teachers Association, and was elected as the organization’s next president.
Dr. Kamal Khan is one of the recipients of President McCormick's newly established award, the President's Award for Leadership in Diversity. The award honors Rutgers faculty and staff "who have been outstanding leaders in supporting, encouraging, and enhancing the diversity of our faculty and curricular offerings." Dr. is also receiving one of the
2006 FAS Awards for Distinguished Contributions to Undergraduate Education for his contributions to the Department of Africana Studies and the CASE course “Health Issues in the African American Community.”
New Books by Africana Faculty!
Ousseina Alidou’s new book, Engaging Modernity: Muslim Women and the Politcs of Agency in Postcolonial Niger will be published this fall by University of Wisconsin Press
Regina Jennings has published a new collection of poetry entitled Race, Rage and Roses, published by Third World Press.
Dr. Olubayi Olubayi has published Wealth, Not Income: Student Discussions on Money and Freedom a collaboration with student researchers. The book, which evolved from a project in Seminar in Africana Studies (course #014:490) examines wealth, not income, as the correct basis for maintaining strong viable communities. Notes Olubayi, "people who did not inherit assets should use financial knowledge to convert the unreliable, inadequate incomes from their jobs into wealth."
Gayle T. Tate’s book Rights for a Season: The Politics of Race, Class and Gender in Richmond, Virginia (co-authored with Lewis A. Randolph) is the recipient of the American Political Science Association’s prize for Best Book on Race and Ethnic Politics, 2004.
