Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship 2025 in UAE

If you're a scholar or practitioner deeply committed to advancing justice through cultural heritage, the Restitution and Reparation: Africa and the Post-Colonial Condition Fellowship is now open for applications! Hosted by The Africa Institute at Global Studies University (Sharjah, UAE) in partnership with the Open Society Foundations, this flagship initiative invites bold research on restitution, repatriation, and reparative justice in the African and African diaspora contexts. Over three academic semesters, the fellowship aims to foster rigorous scholarship, engage transformative dialogue, and support publications that shape the global discourse on cultural restitution.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (The Africa Institute at Global Studies University)

• Host Institution: The Africa Institute (GSU), supported by Open Society Foundations

• Level: Scholarly/Research fellowship (post-Master’s or PhD level)

• Target Group: Scholars and practitioners across career stages with a focus on restitution, repatriation, and reparation of African cultural heritage

• Fields of Study: African art, artifacts, cultural heritage, post-colonial legacy, restitution and reparations, museum ethics, repatriation case studies, institutional critique

• Duration: Three academic semesters (18 months): Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026; overall from September 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026

• Application Deadlines:

  • Fall 2025 cohort: May 15, 2025 (extended)

  • Spring 2026 cohort: October 1, 2025 

  • Fall 2026 cohort: April 1, 2026 

• Start Dates:

  • Fall 2025: September 1, 2025

  • Spring 2026: January 10, 2026

  • Fall 2026: September 1, 2026

• Eligible To: Applicants with a minimum of a Master’s degree, or preferably a PhD, with research proposals aligned to restitution and reparation themes

📚 Fellowship Overview

This program convenes three fellows per cycle, each engaging for a semester within the 18-month direction of the fellowship (Fall 2025 to Fall 2026) . Supported by a generous multi-year grant of $180,000 from the Open Society Foundations, this initiative underlines a shared commitment to confronting colonial legacies and reshaping the ethics of cultural restitution .

Fellows gain access to a vibrant academic environment for interdisciplinary research and public engagement. Each cohort contributes to a program of lecture series, a residential fellowship experience, a final conference, and a collective published volume featuring their peer-reviewed outputs .

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

• Fully supported research residence at The Africa Institute.

• Immersive engagement with global scholars, cultural stakeholders, and practitioners.

• Opportunities to present findings via public lectures and contribute to conference proceedings.

• Publication of a scholarly paper or book chapter as a formal output of the fellowship.

• Institutional prestige from association with The Africa Institute and Open Society Foundations.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Must hold a Master’s degree or PhD in fields relevant to cultural restitution, heritage, African studies, museology, anthropology, law, history, or interdisciplinary areas .

• Demonstrated scholarly focus on restitution, repatriation, or reparative justice, framed within African and diaspora contexts. Applicants using interdisciplinary methods are preferred .

• Research must be original, feasible within a semester, and contribute substantively to the broader discourse on restitution and post-colonial repair.

• Teaching and public engagement expected through presenting at lectures and the closing conference. Fellows must also deliver a publishable academic output by the end of their term .

📝 Application Procedure

Applicants should compile all materials into a single PDF, titled:

'Open Society_LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME', and send it via email to applications@theafricainstitute.org. Use the same naming format in the email subject, clearly indicating the semester you're applying for .

📂 Required documents (in order):

1. Research Proposal / Letter of Interest (1,500–2,000 words): outlining abstract, project goals, research questions, methodology, intended outcomes, and alignment with restitution/reparation themes.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3. Two Writing Samples (articles or book chapters demonstrating research engagement)

4. Two Reference Letters from scholars or professionals familiar with your work in relevant areas .

💡Final Thoughts

This fellowship is a rare and prestigious opportunity for researchers and cultural practitioners to contribute meaningfully to global conversations on restitution and reparative justice. With its blend of interdisciplinary scholarship, public engagement, and institutional support, the program empowers fellows to advance ethical frameworks for cultural heritage—and to help restore what was lost.

🔗 Official Link

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