Distribution of African Studies Programs and Africanists in the United States: A View from the South

Chronicles of the African Studies Association and of the development of African studies programs give clear evidence that both have achieved substantive progress after a rather late arrival on the academic scene. At the same time, however, mapping of both programs and Africaniste equally clearly indicates their quite restricted distribution. Consequently the impact of African studies programs and scholarship on our academies and on the wider society of which we are a part has been far more limited than is desirable. The distribution of Africanists is largely related to the location and size of African studies programs, and the distribution of both of these in turn is influenced by population distribution in the United States. Although large parts of the United States are devoid of African studies programs and of dedicated African scholars, they certainly are not unpopulated. Thus, awareness and understanding of African phenomena bypass large portions of the student and general population, and at least some of the responsibility for ignorance about Africa results from the spotty distribution of programs and scholars. It may be argued that little or nothing can be done to remedy this maldistribution of programs and scholars, but such an argument can logically be offered only after an attempt has been made.