Centre for Culture and Languages in Africa

The CCLA was established in late 2007 as part of a university initiative to strengthen research within the university community. In January 2009 the CCLA moved into offices on the Auckland Park Bunting Road Campus of the University.

Vision, Aims and Strategy of the CCLA

In accordance with the vision, mission, core values, legal and management framework of the University as well as the vision, mission and core values of the Faculty of Humanities, the CCLA strives to promote the creation and dissemination of knowledge concerning forms and expressions of language and culture in Africa, through teaching, research and community service at national and international levels.

The CCLA objectives are:

The creation of a centre that will develop, support, co-ordinate, optimise and disseminate research into all aspects of culture in Africa, as these manifest at all levels, from micro-levels to macro-levels, and in all forms, including cultural practices and their institutions and objects, the symbolic (including language, as well as the realm of value) and social structures.
The development and co-ordination of curricular and extra-curricular courses on aspects of culture in Africa;
The academic dissemination of research outputs, in the form of seminars, journals and monographs;
The establishment of links, in terms of research, courses and activities, with other, similar centres, both in South Africa and beyond;
The pursuit and development of strategic local, national and international research partnerships, and academic staff and student exchange programmes;
The promotion of the centre and its activities, in order to generate national and international awareness of the Centre and to attract donor sponsorship.

Research Themes