The Brazilian Center for African Studies (CEBRAFRICA) traces its roots back to the establishment of the Center for Brazil-South Africa Studies (CESUL) in 2005, under an agreement between the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (FUNAG) of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CESUL/CEBRAFRICA was founded and led by Prof. Dr. Paulo Fagundes Visentini until 2015.

CEBRAFRICA conducts its research activities in collaboration with the Brazilian Center for Strategy and International Relations (NERINT) , both affiliated with the Center for International Government Studies (CEGOV) , situated at the Interdisciplinary Center for Society, Environment, and Development (CISADE) at UFRGS. The Center aims to conduct research, support academic works such as theses and dissertations, facilitate the formation of research groups focusing on African topics, organize seminars, facilitate academic exchanges for professors and students, establish collaborative projects and research networks with African and Africanist institutions, as well as publish works originating from Brazil or translated ones. Additionally, CEBRAFRICA aims to expand its specialized library, provided by FUNAG.

The research conducted by CEBRAFRICA is geared towards understanding the African continent and its interactions with Brazil across various domains, including but not limited to International Relations, Integration Organizations, Security and Defense, Political Systems, History, Geography, Economic Development, Social Structures, Transformations, and Intellectual Trends. It’s important to highlight that CEBRAFRICA maintains a strictly academic and independent stance from any governmental or foreign affiliations, operating within the framework of a Brazilian public university.

The Center serves as a hub for researchers from UFRGS, national and international institutions, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students engaged in research on these thematic areas. CEBRAFRICA publishes the African Series and the Brazilian Journal of African Studies. Moreover, it collaborates with esteemed institutions across various countries including Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Senegal, Cape Verde, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, India, and China.

About African Studies

African studies in Brazil have seen significant development, spurred by the pioneering endeavors of numerous academics, public policies aimed at Afro-Brazilian inclusion, and Brazil’s expanding presence in Africa. However, there persists considerable ignorance, along with tendencies toward generalization and mimicry concerning other historical experiences. Brazilian society and academia must transcend these limitations, engaging with Africa in a more nuanced manner. It’s imperative to delve into the continent’s specificities and engage directly with academics, government officials, and African society. In this context, research conducted at CEBRAFRICA focuses on examining the dynamics of inter-African relations and the underlying structures, seeking to comprehend Africa’s perspective on international relations and its global positioning.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to analyze Brazil’s projection and its cooperation endeavors, including in defense, with African nations within the South Atlantic perimeter. The evolving geopolitical significance of the ocean underscores the importance of such analysis. Brazil’s utilization of cooperation to foster a regional identity in the South Atlantic is reshaping power dynamics in the region. To this end, research efforts involve ongoing collaboration with academic institutions specializing in Africa across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.