Renowned humanities scholar, Professor Toyin Falola, said African ancestral studies will reconnect individuals with their past, shape future narratives, and foster a deeper appreciation of Africa’s diverse cultures and histories.
Falola in a statement on Monday said that AAS would be inaugurated on October 15 at the University of Ghana, during the 2024 Anton Wilhelm Lecture, organised annually by the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa.
He would announce the various dimensions of African Ancestral Studies in greater detail, focusing on the following areas; Genealogy and Ancestral Lineage, Cultural Practices and Traditions, Governance, Kingship and Political Institutions, Spiritual and Religious Beliefs, Historical Studies, Diaspora and Identity, Language and Oral Traditions, Arts and Material Culture, Intersections with African Philosophy, African Ancestral Studies and Modernity, Indigenous Knowledges, Ancestral Studies and Popular Culture, and the Role of African Ancestral Studies in Global Africa. From tracing ancestral lineage to recovering cultural knowledge and identity.
It added, “The idea of this new field has generated widespread enthusiasm as he explains its foundational platform and multi-layered contents. To those who want to teach the subject, Falola has made available close to a dozen syllabi. In a series of interviews with journalists across Africa, he explains that the field will cumulate themes and topics from a dozen fields into what is deeply African, thus adding to the promotion of the idea of African universities instead of universities in Africa. AAS will merge ideas on what we traditionally call heritage, culture, and identity.”
The statement maintained that Falola was committed to ensuring that African Ancestral Studies becomes a vibrant and sustainable field of inquiry.
“He believes it will inspire original research and foster a transformational impact on scholars and communities alike. By situating ancestral studies at the core of African scholarship, AAS aims to engage with and contribute to ongoing debates within African Studies.
“As the world increasingly recognizes the importance of cultural heritage and identity, AAS stands poised to play a pivotal role in reconnecting individuals with their past, shaping future narratives, and fostering a deeper appreciation of Africa’s diverse cultures and histories. The inauguration at the University of Ghana represents not just a new academic discipline but a significant step toward reclaiming and celebrating African ancestral legacies for generations to come,” it read partly.
The statement explained that the Genealogy and Ancestral Lineage emphasised genealogy and tracing one’s ancestral lineage, saying “It will expand our knowledge of African families and kinships. This is accomplished by incorporating oral histories, genealogical research, and the current science of genetic testing.”
Cultural Practices, Indigenous Knowledge, and Traditions; would treat cultural patterns and practices, which have also become distinguishing features of African societies; these include traditional music and dance, clothing, and traditional rites of passage from birth and marriage to death. The core of AAS will include the preservation and understanding of these traditions.
Historical Studies sheds light on the circumstances that led Africans to have the culture, customs, traditions, etc., they have.
“African history is typically organised into pre-colonial history, colonial history, and post-colonial history. Each of these has played a pivotal role with regard to how African societies came to be.this refers to those singular communities of African descendants scattered around the world, whose dispersal has largely occurred as a direct consequence of the slave trade (especially transatlantic),” it read.