The continent of Africa is home to one third of the world’s languages. These languages give us an insight into Africa's vibrant cultures and rich histories. Since the early 1960s, Leiden University has been involved in the study of a variety of these spoken and signed African languages. As one of the leading institutes in the field of African languages, Leiden University Centre for Linguistics holds a unique position in the Netherlands. 

The African Linguistics Leiden webpage brings together all information about our research projects, events and other activities in the field of African linguistics.

Our expertise is as varied as it is broad; we study languages from all corners of the continent and cover a wide variety of research topics. From youth languages to theoretical syntax, anthropological linguistics to digital humanities, we study it all. If you have any questions or suggestions about linguistic research in Africa, please contact us!

Highlights & activities
 

• We are home to the Journal of African Languages and Linguistics.
• Since 1970 we organise the annual Colloquium on African Languages and Linguistics (CALL). In 2021, we proudly hosted the 10th World Congress of African Linguistics (WOCAL). You are also welcome to attend the lectures in the series ‘This time for Africa’.
• We write about African languages for a broad audience on our blog ‘Stemmen van Afrika’.
• Members of our lab teach in the programs of African Studies (BA and MA), Linguistics (BA and MA), International Studies (BA), and Urban Studies (BA).
• As part of the African Studies Assembly (LeidenASA), which is a network of Leiden-based Africanists, we actively collaborate with colleagues working on other topics relating to Africa.

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