Fifteen outstanding early-career African scholars selected to advance humanities research through the AHA–EHURA Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme.

The African Humanities Association (AHA) is pleased to announce the inaugural cohort of the AHA–EHURA Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme (2025/2026). Supported by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation (formerly Carnegie Corporation of New York), the fellowship brings together 15 early-career scholars from across Africa whose research reflects the richness, diversity, and transformative potential of African humanities scholarship.

The selected fellows represent universities across Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, and their research spans themes including Artificial Intelligence and African Knowledge Systems, Digital Humanities, Indigenous Ecologies, History, Gender Studies, Political Economy, Governance, and Education.

About the African Humanities Association

The African Humanities Association (AHA) is a continental scholarly organisation dedicated to advancing excellence in humanities research, teaching, and knowledge production across Africa. Through strategic partnerships, research support, scholarly exchange, and capacity-building initiatives, the Association seeks to strengthen African scholarship while fostering collaboration among humanities researchers across the continent and beyond. Read more

About the EHURA Project

The Enhancing Humanities Research in Africa (EHURA) Project is one of AHA’s flagship initiatives aimed at strengthening humanities scholarship across Africa. Supported by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, the project responds to the need to build a stronger and more connected community of African humanities scholars capable of addressing contemporary societal challenges through innovative and impactful research.

EHURA comprises several complementary initiatives, including:

  • Postdoctoral Fellowships
  • Mentorship Programme
  • Research Residencies
  • Webinar Series
  • Peer-reviewed Journal
  • Scholarly Networking and Publication Support

Together, these initiatives are designed to strengthen research excellence, academic leadership, and collaboration across the continent. Read more

About the Postdoctoral Fellowship

The EHURA Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme provides dedicated support to outstanding early-career academics working in the humanities and related social sciences.

Each fellow receives:

  • A research grant of USD 12,000
  • Nine months of research time
  • Structured mentorship
  • Participation in AHA scholarly activities
  • Capacity-building opportunities
  • Support towards publication and research dissemination

The fellowship particularly encourages innovative humanities research, including projects that engage Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, African knowledge systems, oral traditions, digital humanities, and other contemporary issues relevant to Africa’s development. These objectives were reflected in the fellowship call.

A Rigorous Selection Process

The inaugural call for applications was launched in October 2025, inviting applications from early-career scholars based at African universities. Applicants were required to submit a comprehensive application package comprising a research proposal, cover letter, curriculum vitae, proof of PhD award, and two academic reference letters.

The fellowship attracted an impressive response from across the continent, with 206 applications received from scholars representing diverse disciplines, institutions, and regions of Africa.

To ensure transparency, fairness, and academic excellence, the selection process was undertaken through a rigorous multi-stage review process involving:

  • Eligibility and compliance screening;
  • Independent peer review by experienced humanities scholars drawn from different African countries;
  • Quality assurance and moderation of reviewer assessments; and
  • Final recommendations by a Selection Committee.

Only proposals demonstrating exceptional scholarly quality, originality, feasibility, and alignment with the objectives of the EHURA Programme progressed through each stage of the review process.

Following this comprehensive evaluation, 15 fellows were selected for the inaugural cohort.

The Inaugural Cohort at a Glance

The inaugural fellows represent four geographical regions of Africa:

RegionFellows
Anglophone West Africa7
Southern Africa4
East Africa3
Francophone West & Central Africa1

Countries Represented

  • Ghana
  • Nigeria
  • Cameroon
  • Ethiopia
  • Malawi
  • Tanzania
  • Zimbabwe
  • South Africa

About the Fellows

Read more about our inugural fellows and their research interests here.

Looking Ahead

The African Humanities Association congratulates all members of the inaugural EHURA Postdoctoral Fellowship cohort.

Over the next nine months, the fellows will undertake innovative research, participate in mentorship and professional development activities, engage with scholars across the continent, and contribute to strengthening African humanities scholarship through publications, collaborations, and knowledge exchange.

AHA looks forward to sharing their research journeys, achievements, and impact as the fellowship progresses.