AFFRICA – Centro di Studi Africani in Sardegna (CSAS) was founded in 2005, in keeping with the tradition of African studies (since the 1950s) of the then Istituto di Studi Africani e Orientali of the Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy. The initiative was spearheaded by Bianca Carcangiu and Bruno Manca. Its primary goal is to promote the dissemination of knowledge of African history and culture. This is achieved through initiatives, events, and projects consistent with the Centre's goals, including the study of migratory flows and Sardinia-Africa exchanges in their various socio-political and cultural contexts. CSAS creates networks, connects institutions, and seeks synergies, in collaboration with the Università degli Studi di Cagliari, supporting research initiatives, organising events and seminars. Other than the organisation of the AEGIS Summer School, AFFRICA – Centro di Studi Africani in Sardegna organises the yearly seminar of the Giornata dell’Africa. Other initiatives are incontri d’Affrica IMMAGINI | PAROLE | MUSICA and the book series Nova Collectanea Africana
Giornata dell’Africa
Africa Day, held annually since 2002, takes current events into account and assesses them by drawing on experts in Africa, international cooperation, and specialists from civil institutions and volunteer organisations, such as the Mattei Plan for Africa, a strategic project of diplomacy, cooperation, and investment between the government of Rome and the African continent, discussed in 2024. On that occasion, various guests participated, including Arturo Scotto, a member of parliament with experience in international cooperation, who examined which projects are being implemented at the parliamentary and executive levels, as the situation remains unclear; Maria Cristina Zuddas, an expert in international cooperation, and Roberta Pegoraro, the Mozambique representative of CIES Onlus. Despite some periods of inactivity (due to COVID-19), Africa Day has consistently sought to establish itself as a point of reference for relations between Sardinia and Africa, while also striving to move beyond a purely academic dimension.
incontri d’Affrica IMMAGINI | PAROLE | MUSICA
This event, usually organised over a few days, includes the screening of movies and documentaries, the organisation of meetings, and the sharing of stories on and from the African continent, featuring protagonists — in various capacities — of contemporary Africa. However, there are also spaces dedicated to Sardinia that focus on shared themes and experiences. The organisers' goal is therefore to bring to Cagliari experiences, stories, testimonies, and suggestions that contribute to a deeper understanding of a continent as vast as it is rich in diversity (and far from homogeneous). The continent's story unfolds precisely through meetings with those who live in or have lived in Africa and want to share it. Screenings of African films, discussions on Italian colonialism, seminars and tastings of South African wine, and an African fashion show were the cornerstones of some of the meetings between CSAS and Sardinia.
Nova Collectanea Africana
Nova Collectanea Africana is a book series launched in 2010 (the first volume was published in 2011) that covers topics such as politics, economics, religion, human rights, media, conflict, sport, and languages, and welcomes papers in Italian, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The main theme that runs through all volumes published so far is the concept of “minority”, an often-controversial topic. The objective of CSAS is not to follow the classic, most popular field of study of isolated and excluded minorities in the political and social life, but rather to broaden the perspective by analysing the groups or communities of particular interest in the countries studied by each researcher. The aim is that the results of this initiative will be widely disseminated and serve as a significant tool for CSAS's cooperation with Africans in Sardinia.