Dr Kudus Oluwatoyin Adebayo of the Diaspora and Transnational Studies Unit of the Institute for African Studies, University of Ibadan, has been announced among the 2025 Cohort winners of the prestigious African Studies Association (ASA) Samora & Graça Machel Presidential Fellows.
This prestigious fellowship supports exceptional scholarship and academic exchange opportunities for Africa-based scholars in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
The 2025 fellows are Kudus Oluwatoyin Adebayo, Khumisho Moguerane, and Eugenia Anderson. They were selected through a competitive process recognising scholarly excellence, originality, and contributions to African Studies.
Dr Adebayo is a research fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
His interdisciplinary work focuses on African migrants, migration health, and knowledge production.
According to ASA release, Dr. Adebayo will be hosted by Johns Hopkins University during the fellowship.
Fellows will attend the ASA Annual Meeting, visit U.S. institutions, collaborate with Africanist scholars, and present their research.
The programme aims to foster intellectual exchange and amplify emerging voices in the field.
Reacting to the fellowship, Dr. Adebayo stated that the award is a “testament to the relevance of research taking place at the University of Ibadan despite the many challenges facing scholars.
“I am honoured to receive this fellowship award from the African Studies Association. I am especially grateful to Dr. Julie Cummiskey for nominating me and to the ASA award committee for recognising my work.
“This award is a meaningful encouragement and a testament to the relevance of the research taking place at the University of Ibadan, despite the many challenges we face.
“I am indebted to my mentors, teachers, and colleagues at the Department of Sociology and the Institute of African Studies, whose guidance and collaboration continue to shape my scholarly journey.”
The Fund was made possible by a generous gift from Allen and Barbara Isaacman, noted scholars of Mozambique and long-time contributors to African Studies.
Named in honour of Samora & Graça Machel, the fellowship celebrates the legacy of these influential Mozambican leaders and their lifelong commitment to liberation, education, and human rights.
Established in 1957, the African Studies Association is the flagship membership organization devoted to enhancing the exchange of information about Africa.
The ASA is based in the United States and aims to cultivate a better understanding of the continent by providing access to path-breaking research and facilitating interdisciplinary exchanges with African scholars and institutions.
The ASA Annual Meeting fosters global networks by convening people with scholarly and other interests in Africa and ultimately broadens professional opportunities in the field.
The organization publishes two leading journals on Africa, African Studies Review, and History in Africa and promotes an informed understanding of Africa to educational institutions, the public, businesses, media, and other interested communities.
