Are you a scholar or practitioner engaged in critical discussions on the restitution and repatriation of African art and cultural artifacts? Do you want to contribute to the growing movement for cultural justice and historical accountability? The Africa Institute is offering a fellowship for scholars and practitioners researching the restitution and repatriation of African art and artifacts. This fellowship aligns with The Africa Institute’s mission to foster critical conversations in African and African diaspora studies. By bringing together diverse voices, it aims to advance discussions on historical accountability and cultural justice.

Program Details

• Duration: (Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Fall 2026)
• Start Date: September 1, 2025
• End Date: December 31, 2026
• Fellows: Three experts at different career stages will be selected for this fellowship over an 18-month period.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a clear scholarly focus on restitution, repatriation, and reparation in the context of Africa, the African diaspora, and the post-colonial condition. The fellowship prioritizes scholars whose work bridges multiple disciplines or engages innovative methodologies. Research projects must be original, feasible within the fellowship duration, and contribute to ongoing and future discussions on restitution and reparations.

Research topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Historical and contemporary debates on cultural restitution and reparation
• Case studies of looted artifacts, human remains, or cultural heritage
• The role of Western institutions (museums, archives, universities) in perpetuating or addressing colonial legacies
• Neo-nationalist policies and campaigns for repatriation and restitution
• The impact of racial reparations and lessons for cultural restitution

Fellows will be required to submit a publishable paper or chapter based on their research as part of the final fellowship publication.

Eligibility and Expectations

• Candidates must hold at least a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Research must align with the broader objectives of the Open Society-funded project, including lecture series, residential fellowships, a conference, and final publication.
• Fellows will be expected to present their work as part of The Africa Institute’s lecture series, participate in the final conference, and contribute to the publication of its proceedings.

Submission Guidelines

Applicants must submit all required documents in PDF format as a single file by April 1, 2025, to facilitate the review process. The documents should be arranged in the following order:

1. Research Proposal/Letter of Interest (1,500–2,000 words)
   • Abstract for the publishable paper
   • Project goals, research questions, and methodology
   • Intended outcomes and contribution to the field of restitution and reparations
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Two Sample Writings (e.g., published articles or book chapters)
4. Two Reference Letters from specialists in relevant fields

Applicants should name their file using the format: Open Society_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME. The same name should be used in the email subject heading. Candidates must specify the semester they are applying for and send their application as a PDF attachment to applications@theafricainstitute.org.

More Information

More details about the Open Society Foundations can be found at opensocietyfoundations.org.

To learn more, please visit here.