Research on Africa is increasingly relevant in the context of contemporary developments, when contacts with Africa are becoming more and more significant for Europe and the Czech Republic in economic, political and social terms. Key issues that we study in the context of Africa in the long term include, for example, the politics of power, the functioning of society in urban settings, urbanism, and migration. The research of the Centre for African Studies at the Department of Middle Eastern Studies has long been concerned with the past and present of Africa from an interdisciplinary perspective. Countries where we are active and where we also collaborate with local scholars and institutions include Ethiopia, Libya, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal and Nigeria. Monika Baumanová has long been involved in pre-colonial and colonial archaeology and anthropology in urban contexts, particularly in East and Southern Africa, and her activities include mapping and non-destructive documentation of historic buildings, or questions of the social relevance of cultural heritage and material culture. Jan Záhořík's research focuses on the political and social history of Ethiopia, urban and rural transformations in Ethiopia and the West African Sahel, the legacy of colonialism especially in terms of ethnicity, nationalism, social inequalities and urbanism, as well as conflicts in Africa. Jan Pěchota focuses on social transformations, the function and form of cities in Morocco as a result of the rise of French colonial influence, as well as social issues such as the coexistence of the Moroccan Jewish community with the Muslim community.

Research projects on this topic:

Horizon Europe project (2022-2026): TRANS-SAFE: Transforming Road Safety in Africa (No 101069525). Learn more about the project at: https://www.trans-safe.org/

Czech Science Foundation (2020-2023): project COMPART - Comparing urban morphological transformation in precolonial to colonial urban traditions (No. 20-02725Y)

Horizon Europe project (2020-2024): SAHA - RaiSe Libyan Higher education health sector for the benefit of local society. Learn more about the project at: https://saha.unipv.it/

Centre for African Studies, Department of Middle Eastern Studies

doc. Jan Záhořík, Ph.D. - jzahorik@ff.zcu.cz

Monika Baumanová, M.A., Ph.D. - monibau@ff.zcu.cz

Mgr. Jan Pěchota - jpechota@ff.zcu.cz

„Žádná jiná koloniální mocnost si neuchovala takovou míru kontroly nad svými državami jako Francie, Afrika se však změnila, říká Jan Záhořík“, Security Magazin, 15.9. 2023

“Vlna převratů se valí Afrikou. Má společného jmenovatele: Francii”, Seznam Zprávy, 3.9. 2023

“Humanitární krize a miliony lidí mimo domov. Etiopská Tigraj se vzpamatovává z ničivé války”, irozhlas.cz, 23.4. 2023

“Nejkrvavější válka dneška v myslích nekončí. Napravit křivdy potrvá generace”, Seznam zprávy, 15.3. 2023

“Afrikanista Jan Záhořík obdržel historicky první cenu rektora ZČU”, idnes.cz , 8.1. 2023

„Výzkum plzeňských vědců: Virtuální výlet do zaniklých svahilských měst“, Český rozhlas, 21.3. 2022

„Vědci ze ZČU zkoumali zaniklá města v Africe.“, novinky.cz, 16.3. 2022