{"id":6377,"date":"2025-10-21T11:55:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/promis.cla.kobe-u.ac.jp\/?page_id=6377"},"modified":"2026-01-09T16:39:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T07:39:09","slug":"african_conviviality_center","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/promis.cla.kobe-u.ac.jp\/en\/african_conviviality_center\/","title":{"rendered":"African Conviviality Center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The African Conviviality Center:<\/mark>
Fostering Deeper Engagement with Africa<\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Dean of the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Kiyoshi Umeya<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Graduate School of International Cultural Studies at Kobe University has established the African Conviviality Center to foster a more profound and conscious exchange with African researchers and students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Kobe University has steadily increased its international cooperation across various fields, these partial exchanges are no longer sufficient for engaging with Africa, a burgeoning global frontier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Graduate School, which delves into international research through the humanities, social sciences, and ICTs, has recognised the growing importance of Africa\u2019s indigenous and endogenous knowledges and philosophies. This understanding has fuelled a strong desire to deepen our engagement. Since 2015, we\u2019ve collaborated on joint research with Francis B. Nyamnjoh, who serves as an advisor to the Center. However, there\u2019s a clear and increasing need to actively learn from exceptional African scholars like him and to cultivate more vibrant exchanges between our students and theirs. The new Center provides the dedicated framework to facilitate these crucial activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center\u2019s name, \u201cConviviality,\u201d draws inspiration from one of Nyamnjoh\u2019s core ideals: the journey of becoming human. Conviviality embodies the concept of acknowledging differences, even when they clash, while still sharing mutual benefits. This ideal perfectly encapsulates the Center\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Established in April 2025, the African Conviviality Center will focus on the following key activities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Promoting research projects specifically targeting Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Supporting research projects led by African researchers and students.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Organising seminars and events to disseminate the findings from these research initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Facilitating liaison with relevant domestic and international organisations and institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Undertaking other essential tasks related to African researchers and students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    While the Center will continue to provide administrative support in English for daily life and research, and guidance for learning Japanese \u2013 services also offered to other international researchers \u2013 we acknowledge the current limited presence of African residents in Japan. We recognise the limitations of an essentialist categorisation, but we believe there\u2019s a strategic rationale in temporarily grouping initiatives under \u201cAfrica\u201d to effectively promote these vital exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ultimately, the goal is for the Center to become redundant. Our vision is a future where African researchers and students naturally integrate into the graduate school as colleagues and fellow students. With this in mind, the African Conviviality Center proudly begins its important work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kiyoshi Umeya,
    Dean of the Graduate School of International Cultural Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n