ASAUK Distinguished Africanist Award

The Distinguished Africanist Award was inaugurated by the ASAUK as a way of paying tribute to people who have made exceptional contributions to the field of African studies, i.e. scholars who have in one way or another expanded and disseminated knowledge of Africa, and interest in Africa. The award is not confined to academics. It is intended for people who have contributed largely to African Studies in the UK, or who have strengthened links between African Studies here and in Africa itself.

The 2012 Winners

The ASAUK Distinguished Africanist was awarded to Kenneth and Pravina King and to Lalage Bown at the 2012 ASAUK biennial conference in Leeds.

Kenneth King became the first Director of the Centre of African Studies in 1981. He took these CAS annual conferences to an exceptional level of excellence by setting out to get the very best people wherever they were in the world, always half of the speakers from Africa. He mustered funds to bring in outstanding experts from NGOs, government and business as well as universities.

In 1991 Pravina King took over as Administrator the office of the Centre of African Studies and it was her inspired planning of these international gatherings that built on their reputation. She and her team of skilled supporters managed to get people visas, and tickets from Africa, America and Asia and to make everybody feel privileged to be there.

Professor Bown first went to the Gold Coast in 1949 to teach in the Extra Mural Department of the University College of the Gold Coast. She was resident tutor in the Trans‐Volta‐Togoland Region.

For more info about the winners, or to read their acceptance speeches, dowload the 14 ASAUK Newsletter No. 69 (pdf)

Past recipients of the award

2010 award: Robin Law
2009 award: James Currey
2008 award: John McCracken
2007 award: George Shepperson
2006 award: John Lonsdale
2005 award: Tony Kirk-Greene
2004 award: Roland Oliver and Terry Ranger
2002 award: Lionel Cliffe, Eldred and Marjorie Jones and Shula Marks
2001 award: Basil Davidson, John Fage, and Douglas Rimmer


Click here to read more about these winners.

Contact: David Kerr, Centre of West African Studies, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK, email: D.Kerr(AT)bham.ac.uk