About Us

The Centre for Cultural and African Studies (CeCASt), nestled in the heart of Kumasi, the seat of the renowned Ashanti Kingdom, is a research institution under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CoHSS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Established in 1974, CeCASt has positioned itself as a premier research centre in Ghana, undertaking research, teaching, and co-curricular activities in African studies, cultural studies, and performing arts.

CeCASt aspires to build a competitive niche in African Studies, cultural studies, and performing arts linked to Science and Technology to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. It also promotes scholarships in African heritage and culture. CeCASt is home to a team of permanent and associate research fellows who conduct research on various topics related to the historical and contemporary socio-cultural and material practices of everyday life in Africa.

Research fellows at CeCASt undertake research in all the fields of humanities and social sciences and collaborate with local and international research and cultural institutions in the production and dissemination of informed knowledge about African societies.

CeCASt offers courses that lead to the award of M.A., MPhil, and Ph.D. degrees in African studies. The performing arts and visual arts sections showcase cultural exhibitions.

 

Mission and Purpose

Our mission is:

• • to serve as a hub for scientific research and scholarly exploration.
  • To undertake interdisciplinary research and teaching about Africa with the aim of fostering a deeper understanding of Africa and its diverse historical, current, and future socio-political, economic, and cultural dynamics.
  • To train and equip local and international students in the theory and practice of the African performing Arts and cultural values to levels of proficiency and scholarship attainable in the University.
  • To serve as a Centre of consultancy for research and knowledge production in areas relevant to African studies, cultural studies, and performing arts.

Research Focus Areas

CeCASt engages in:

• • Cutting-edge research and scholarly exchanges across all domains within the humanities and social science disciplines:
  • Research projects that aim at bridging cultural, historical, social, economic, political, and science and technological dimensions in knowledge production.
  • Click here for more about past and ongoing research projects

Teaching Programs

We offer courses that lead to the award of:

• •  M.A., MPhil, and Ph.D. degrees in African studies.
  • Non-degree awarding courses, such as certificates in contemporary African Music and heritage studies.
  • A range of African studies (AFS) courses to undergraduate students across all colleges in the university as core and electives, allowing them to immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of African heritage.
  • Click here for more about our courses

Collaborative Endeavors

CeCASt collaborates with:

• • a consortium of researchers within and beyond KNUST, including international institutions to foster intellectual exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.
  • institutions and individual researchers who actively contribute to the academic discourse on African identity, creativity, and resilience.