Nairobi, Kenya—Thirty-nine Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa fellows met in Nairobi at the United States International University—Africa from August 1-5, 2016. The workshop allowed fellows to hone their research topics under the supervision of some of the most prominent professors of African Studies, who served as workshop facilitators. Fellows also received extensive feedback from their peers through small breakout groups based on fellowship type and through thematic discussions on topics ranging from Peacebuilding and Transitional Justice to Land, Natural Resources, and Conflict to Social Movements.

This was the ninth workshop held by The Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa program—an essential component of the Next Generation model, which deepens connections between the top emerging scholars on the continent and between fellows and prominent faculty in the field. Fellows worked in small groups over the five days discussing each dissertation individually and discussing the ways their projects fit within broader themes of peace, security, and development. The workshop also highlighted several prominent figures in higher education in Africa, including Peter Anyang Nyong’o, who discussed the future of higher education in Africa and Aina Tade, who spoke to excellence in African academia. At the close of the five days, the fellows left motivated by new ideas for their dissertation and supported by a new community of scholars.