The 2027 The Africa Institute Senior and Postdoctoral Fellowships offer an opportunity for established scholars, emerging researchers, authors, and public intellectuals to undertake advanced research in African and African diaspora studies. Hosted by The Africa Institute, Global Studies University, the fellowships provide a dedicated research environment in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with opportunities for scholars to develop research projects in the humanities, social sciences, literature, cultural studies, visual culture, performance studies, and related fields.

Deadline: September 30, 2026

The fellowship programme is particularly relevant to researchers whose work contributes to a deeper understanding of Africa, the African diaspora, culture, society, history, gender, feminism, literature, visual culture, and related areas of critical scholarship.

About The Africa Institute

The Africa Institute, Global Studies University is a globally oriented centre focused on research, documentation, study, and teaching related to Africa and its diaspora, particularly within the humanities and social sciences.

The Institute is designed both as a research-based think tank and a postgraduate studies institution. It offers master’s and Ph.D. programmes intended to help develop a new generation of scholars and critical thinkers working on African and African diaspora studies.

Through its Research Fellowships Program, the Institute hosts senior and postdoctoral scholars who are given the opportunity to pursue focused research while participating in an academic environment dedicated to African and diaspora scholarship.

The 2027 fellowship programme includes four distinct fellowship opportunities, divided between senior scholars and postdoctoral researchers.

The 2027 Fellowship Opportunities

1. Toni Morrison Senior Fellowship in African Diaspora Literature and Cultural Studies

The Toni Morrison Senior Fellowship in African Diaspora Literature and Cultural Studies honours the legacy of Toni Morrison and her significant contributions to world literature, humanities, cultural studies, critical theory, and understanding of the African American experience.

The fellowship is intended for established scholars and intellectuals whose work relates to African and African diaspora literature, culture, and related fields.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants may include:

• Associate Professors or Full Professors at their home institutions
• Independent authors
• Public intellectuals
• Established writers and scholars with recognised contributions in relevant fields
• Researchers whose work focuses on African and African diaspora literature, culture, humanities, or related areas

Applicants should have demonstrated recognition for their writing or scholarly contributions.

Fellowship duration and location

This is a:

• Full-time fellowship
• One-year residency
• Based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• Typically running from September to June

The residency format provides fellows with an opportunity to dedicate substantial time to their proposed research project.

2. Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellowship in Global African Studies

The Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellowship in Global African Studies is named in honour of Professor Ali A. Mazrui, whose work made major contributions to African Studies and its development as a global field of scholarship.

This fellowship is designed for established scholars whose research focuses on Africa and the African diaspora, particularly where these subjects intersect with the humanities and social sciences.

Areas of relevance

Potential research areas may include work examining:

• African studies
• African diaspora studies
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• African societies and cultures
• Global African studies
• Intersections between Africa and the wider world

Who can apply?

The fellowship is open to:

• Associate Professors
• Full Professors
• Scholars at equivalent levels outside traditional academic institutions
• Independent authors
• Public intellectuals
• Recognised scholars whose work relates to African and African diaspora studies

Applicants should have established scholarly or intellectual recognition in relevant areas.

Fellowship duration and location

The Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellowship provides:

• A full-time research residency
• One-year duration
• Residence in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• A typical fellowship period from September to June

3. Okwui Enwezor Postdoctoral Fellowship in Visual Culture, Performance Studies, and Critical Humanities

The Okwui Enwezor Postdoctoral Fellowship is intended for emerging scholars working in areas connected to visual culture, performance studies, art history, art criticism, and critical humanities.

The fellowship honours Okwui Enwezor and his influential contributions as a scholar, curator, and art critic.

Applicants should have research interests that connect visual or performance studies with broader debates in the humanities and African and African diaspora studies.

Potential areas of research

Relevant work may involve:

• Visual culture
• Performance studies
• Art history
• Art criticism
• Cultural studies
• Critical humanities
• African and African diaspora perspectives in visual and performance studies

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• Be emerging scholars
• Hold a Ph.D.
• Have earned their doctoral degree within the five years preceding the start of the fellowship
• Have research relevant to the fellowship’s thematic areas

Fellowship duration and location

The fellowship is:

• Full-time
• Two years
• Based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• Typically running from September to June

This longer residency allows postdoctoral researchers to dedicate significant time to developing and completing their research.

4. Fatema Mernissi Postdoctoral Fellowship in Social and Cultural Studies

The Fatema Mernissi Postdoctoral Fellowship in Social and Cultural Studies honours the work of Professor Fatema Mernissi, whose scholarship made important contributions to gender, feminism, sociopolitical change, Islam, and cultural studies.

The fellowship is intended for emerging scholars working in the social sciences, particularly researchers whose work focuses on gender, feminism, cultural studies, or visual cultures and intersects with African and African diaspora studies.

Relevant research areas

Research may relate to:

• Gender studies
• Feminism
• Social sciences
• Cultural studies
• Visual cultures
• Sociopolitical change
• African studies
• African diaspora studies
• Intersections between these fields

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• Be emerging scholars
• Hold a Ph.D.
• Have received their Ph.D. within the five years preceding the start of the fellowship
• Have research relevant to social and cultural studies
• Demonstrate a connection between their proposed research and African or African diaspora studies

Fellowship duration and location

The fellowship provides:

• A full-time research residency
• Two-year duration
• Residence in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• A typical fellowship period from September to June

Eligibility Criteria for the 2027 Fellowships

The programme has different eligibility requirements depending on whether applicants are applying for a Senior Fellowship or a Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Senior Fellowships

The Senior Fellowships are open to scholars who are:

• Associate Professors
• Full Professors
• At equivalent levels within or outside academia
• Established authors or public intellectuals with recognised contributions in relevant fields

Applicants should have an established record of intellectual or scholarly work related to the fellowship’s research area.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

Applicants for the Postdoctoral Fellowships must:

• Hold a Ph.D.
• Have received the Ph.D. within the last five years before assuming the fellowship
• Have a research project relevant to the specific fellowship
• Be emerging scholars working in the relevant academic or research field

Because each fellowship has its own thematic focus, applicants should select the fellowship that most closely matches their research interests and proposed project.

Application Requirements

Applicants are expected to prepare a research-focused application demonstrating the significance, objectives, and approach of their proposed work.

The application requires the following materials:

1. Research Abstract

Applicants must submit an abstract of up to 300 words.

The abstract should outline:

• The proposed research project
• The central focus of the research
• What the applicant intends to investigate during the fellowship period

The abstract should provide a clear overview of the proposed project.

2. Project Statement

Applicants must submit a 1,000–2,000-word project statement explaining their proposed research.

The statement should address:

• Research objectives
• Research approach
• Overall importance of the study
• The central research questions or issues
• The significance of the proposed work

Applicants may also include a one-page bibliography containing the key sources relevant to their proposed research.

3. Two Writing Samples

Applicants must provide two samples of writing.

The samples may be:

• Published works
• Unpublished works

These samples allow the Institute to assess the applicant’s research and writing ability.

4. Letter of Interest

Applicants must provide a letter of interest explaining their interest in the fellowship and their proposed research.

5. Curriculum Vitae

A current CV should be included with the application, presenting the applicant’s academic, research, professional, and publication background.

6. Referees

Applicants must provide the contact details of three referees.

The Institute will contact the referees directly to request letters of reference.

Applicants should therefore ensure that the contact information provided is accurate and that their referees are appropriate individuals who can comment meaningfully on their academic or professional work.

How to Choose the Right Fellowship

Applicants should carefully match their academic background and proposed research to the fellowship’s thematic focus.

Choose the Toni Morrison Senior Fellowship if:

Your work focuses on African diaspora literature, literature, culture, humanities, cultural studies, or critical theory, and you are an established scholar, author, or public intellectual.

Choose the Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellowship if:

You are an established scholar working broadly in African and African diaspora studies, particularly across the humanities and social sciences.

Choose the Okwui Enwezor Postdoctoral Fellowship if:

You recently completed your Ph.D. and your research focuses on visual culture, performance studies, art history, art criticism, or critical humanities.

Choose the Fatema Mernissi Postdoctoral Fellowship if:

You recently completed your Ph.D. and your research focuses on gender, feminism, social sciences, cultural studies, visual cultures, and their relationship to Africa or the African diaspora.

Fellowship Location

All four fellowships are based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The fellowships are structured as residency programmes, meaning successful fellows are expected to undertake their research on a full-time basis at the Institute.

The senior fellowships are generally one-year residencies, while the postdoctoral fellowships are generally two-year residencies.

The typical fellowship period runs from September to June.

Why This Fellowship Opportunity Is Significant

The Africa Institute’s fellowship programme is particularly relevant to researchers seeking a dedicated environment for advanced work on Africa and the African diaspora.

The programme brings together different areas of scholarship, including:

• African and African diaspora studies
• Humanities
• Social sciences
• Literature
• Cultural studies
• Gender and feminism
• Visual culture
• Performance studies
• Art history
• Critical humanities

For established scholars, the Senior Fellowships provide an opportunity to pursue focused research at an advanced stage of their careers.

For recently graduated Ph.D. researchers, the Postdoctoral Fellowships provide an opportunity to develop their research within an institution specifically dedicated to African and African diaspora studies.

Important Deadline

The application deadline for the 2027 The Africa Institute Senior and Postdoctoral Fellowships is:

September 30, 2026

Applicants should prepare their research proposal, writing samples, CV, letter of interest, and referee information well before the deadline.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare all required application materials and submit their application through the official fellowship application process.

Click HERE to read more and apply.

Conclusion

The 2027 The Africa Institute Senior and Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a research opportunity for established scholars and emerging postdoctoral researchers whose work contributes to the study of Africa and the African diaspora.

With four specialised fellowships covering African diaspora literature and cultural studies, global African studies, visual culture and performance studies, and social and cultural studies, the programme offers different pathways for researchers with diverse academic interests.

The fellowships are based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and provide full-time research residencies ranging from one to two years depending on the fellowship.

Researchers interested in applying should ensure that their proposed project clearly aligns with the relevant fellowship, prepare a strong research statement and writing samples, and submit their application before the September 30, 2026 deadline.

Click HERE for more fellowship opportunities.