Since its inception in 1969, the Center for African Studies has evolved from a small faculty group known as the Committee on African Studies into a robust, interdisciplinary body that has earned Harvard recognition as a National Resource Center from the U.S. Department of Education.

As the University-wide nucleus for Africanists at Harvard and generator of numerous, high-impact initiatives on campus and on the continent, the Center for African Studies works with students and faculty from across the University to sponsor an array of high-impact and high-profile programs. These include study abroad and internship opportunities, inter-faculty research and publication initiatives, collaborative teaching and learning initiatives, institutional partnerships on the continent, transformative technology-based outreach efforts, and a wide range of on-campus seminars, workshops, and conferences.

Driven by a strong mission statement, this Center serves as an intellectual hub, connecting students, faculty, and members of the wider Africanist community.