News

On 25 February, IFRA-Nigeria and the National Museum of Unity in Ibadan organized "A Dialogue on Traditional Dance & Music", featuring Dr. Olaolu Emmanuel Adekola, Research Fellow in African Music and Postgraduate Coordinator at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, and Oluyomi Duro Ladipo (Àrólé Àṣà), dancer, singer and stage performer. The event was a memorable one, attracting over 150 participants, among which many pupils from local schools, students from the Music Department of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Lead City University, the Director of the Institute of African Studies in the University of Ibadan Professor Sola Olorunyomi, Miss Ibadan, Commissioner of Culture for Oyo State Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, local traditional authorities, State officials and several members of the Museum Staff.

This event was held as part of the French Embassy Fund (FEF) "Nigerian Alternative Heritages" project, and featured a special guided tour of the Museum's collection of ancient instruments, a presentation of Nigerian traditional music, a riveting musical performance and finally a dialogue between research and artistic practice. You can learn more about this exciting event below!

On 20 February, IFRA-Nigeria held a Methodological Seminar with Charles Vashala, researcher at the Center for the Study and Promotion of Cultural Sustainability of the University of Maiduguri and Cotutal doctoral candidate in Maiduguri and at the University of Hildesheim (Germany). He is also the recipient of an IFRA research grant. He presented the innovative methods he used for his research on the "Exploration of Traditional Healing and Mental Health in Maiduguri".

He began his presentation by presenting his research project and his goal to see it being used to bring about better policies on mental health in Borno state. He reflected on the specific challenges of access and trust while conducting research in a dangerous environment. He explained the importance of the use of partners to work around it, and the ethical challenges of needing to adapt to local beliefs and cultural practices. Finally, he explained his innovative methodology : participatory methods through drawing. A Q&A session followed the presentation.

You can find a summary of Mr. Vashala's presentation below!

The Embassy of France in Nigeria is implementing the French Government Scholarship Programme, "France Excellence" among which are the "Séjours Scientifiques de Haut Niveau (SSHN, High-Level Scientific Stays)". Addressed to academic and research staff wishing to spend some time in a higher education or research institution in France, the SSHN also aim to be a tool to increase the cooperation with French institutions.

In 2023, 7 Nigerian researchers have been awarded this grant for a 2 to 4 weeks mobility. In 2024, the Embassy of France offered 7 scientific grants of one month each. In 2025, the number of visits funded may be higher, depending on the available budget, the duration of the visits.

To find out more about the eligibility criteria, timeline and to download the application form, visit the French Embassy's website.

Deadline for application: 26 April 2025

IFRA-Nigeria is launching its annual call for research projects. The institute will be funding several research projects, individual or collective, focusing on social science in West Africa. This call is open to master's, doctoral and post-doctoral students, as well as researchers. Learn how to apply below!

Deadline : 2 April 2025

L'IFRA-Nigeria lance son appel annuel à projets de recherche. L'Institut financera plusieurs projets de recherche, individuels ou collectifs, portant sur les sciences sociales en Afrique de l'Ouest. Cet appel est ouvert aux étudiants en master, doctorat et post-doctorat, ainsi qu'aux chercheurs. Découvrez comment postuler ci-dessous !

Date limite : 2 avril 2025

On 6 February, IFRA took part in the screening of The Poets, a documentary by director Chivas DeVinck, featuring Nigerian poet Niyi Osundare and Sierra Leonean poet Syl Cheney-Coker as they reflect on their lives, experiences, and poetry. The event, organized by the Thursday Film Series and facilitated by Dr Emilie Guitard (Prodig), was attended by Niyi Osundare himself, as well as two other writers : Molara Wood and Adéọlá Adérè̩mí. Following the movie, there was a lively discussion between students, faculty members and the three writers on environmental protection in the University of Ibadan and beyond. The full panel discussion is available on TFS’ YouTube channel!

On 30 January, IFRA-Nigeria and the Institute of African Studies (IAS), hosted the first session of their seminar series on “Critical decolonialities”. The event featured Dr Charmaine Pereira, an esteemed feminist scholar based in Abuja, and Dr Oluwatoyin C. Olajide of Obafemi Awolowo University as her discussant. In her presentation, Dr Pereira focused on the general history and issues of decolonial feminism. She described the movement's role in Nigeria, through key figures like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Bolanle Awe. Presenting a thorough review of the topics of feminist knowledge production in Nigeria - Boko Haram, conceptions of gender in pre-colonial societies, contesting State brutality and much more - she raised very interesting and relevant questions regarding modern challenges in Nigeria and the future of decolonial feminism. She concluded by detailing the key institutional spaces where changes can either be made or hindered.

Dr Olajide offered insightful reflections on the presentation, raising a series of questions and comments on fascinating topics like how women’s self-perception is shaped by patriarchy and colonialism, the construction of African gender and sexuality, and the recognition of some forms of domination on women’s bodies even before colonialism. Finally, the in-person and zoom participants had the opportunity to ask questions to our two speakers.

To read a more detailed summary of the event, please click below. The full conference is also available on our Youtube channel.

The “French Institute for Research in Africa” (IFRA-Nigeria) based at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, is funding up to two PhD students at the University of Ibadan as part of a project in digital humanities with a focus on heritage studies at the Lagos National Museum Archives. A co-supervision of University of Ibadan and IFRA Nigeria will be offered.

Deadline for application : 15/03/2025

Learn more below and read the full proposal here. 

On 24 January, Dr Barbara Morovich, IFRA-Nigeria director, and Marie Lureau, research project manager, visited the National Museum Lagos and had the privilege to meet its curator, Mrs Nkechi Adedeji and the dedicated team of the Nigeria Alternative Heritage project lead by Mr Busari. The project was made possible by the French Embassy Fund.

Thank you to Mrs Nkechi Adedeji and the project team for welcoming us and for sharing our motivation to share Nigeria's alternative heritage. Visit the National Museum Lagos Archives website inaugurated last year and to learn more about our exciting visit, click below.

IFRA-Nigeria, IFRA-Nairobi, and IFAS Research were pleased to welcome on 23 January three esteemed collaborators - Dr Jackson Kago, Dr Adedeji Adebayo and Rosebelle Otieno - for a special webinar on the two latest issues of Sources, the free-access, double peer reviewed journal publishing African-based research by African researchers.

Both reflected on the writing of their articles, Dr Kago exploring Google Street View as a research tool and Dr Adebayo on reaching the "out of reach" in the context of his research on women's political participation in south-west Nigeria. They not only provided interesting insights on their research methods, but also practical tips for any researchers looking to publish. As for Rosebelle Otieno, she offered concrete advice on producing quality articles, based on her extensive experience in the academic publishing world. You will find a summary of this insightful webinar below.

If you're interested in learning more about Dr Kago, Dr Adebayo or Sources' work, you can find their articles as well as the journal's publication guidelines on Sources' website

IFRA-Nigeria had the pleasure to welcome Adedeji Adebayo on 22 January, for our first Methodological Seminar of 2025. IFRA-Nigeria director, Dr Barbara Morovich, introduced Dr Adebayo, a trusted junior research associate of IFRA-Nigeria's Elections Observatory. Dr Adebayo obtained his PhD from the Peace and Conflict Department of the University of Ibadan.

During the course of his insightful presentation, he reflected on his experiences as a field or research assistant before his doctorate, and the benefit he gained from them. He argued that this allowed him to become familiar with new ways of doing research, acquire new skills and build a network of trusted researchers that continues to be very beneficial in his own work today. You will find a summary of his intervention below.

Moreover, if you're interested in learning more about Dr Adebayo's work, click here "Getting in Touch with the Out of Reach: Fieldwork Strategies in Research on Women and Politics (South-West of Nigeria)" to read his article in Sources issue n°7 "Varia".

IFRA-Nigeria invites application for a full-time post-doctoral position starting on March 1, 2025. The role will be fixed until August 31, 2025.

Main responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and follow up research and research-action projects initiated by IFRA-Nigeria in coordination with Nigerians cultural institutions.
2. Participate in research training activities and enhance IFRA-Nigeria’s pedagogical activities, such as the methodological seminar and the conferences.
3. Participate in scientific activities, particularly through organizing scientific events (panel, seminar, and workshop) independently or alongside the director of IFRA-Nigeria.
4. Promote scientific partnerships by networking IFRA-Nigeria with Nigerian, West-African or International researchers, in line with the candidate’s personal research project.
5. Contribute to IFRA-Nigeria’s scientific output, by developing a consistent and innovative personal research project that aligns with IFRA-Nigeria scientific axes, potentially leading to scientific publications.

L’institut français de recherche en Afrique (IFRA) à Ibadan, Nigéria cherche sa/son directeur.trice, poste à pourvoir à partir de septembre 2025.

On 21 November 2024, Dr. Côme Salvaire, a researcher at Sciences Po Bordeaux & Research Institute for Sustainable Development, presented a methodological seminar titled: “What is a Case Study Good for?”, illustrating the logic of case study research with the results of an ethnographic study conducted from 2015 to 2024 around a garbage dump in Mushin, Lagos. 

On 26 November 2024, three French research institutes in sub-Saharan Africa—IFRA-Nigeria, IFRA-Nairobi, and IFAS-Research— will organize a webinar to present the work of Africa researchers and Africa-based research published in Sources, the UMIFRE’s academic journal. 

Wednesday the 9^th and Thursday the 10^th of October 2024, Olufunke Adeboye (University of Lagos), Barbara Morovich (IFRA-Nigeria), Marième N’Diaye (CNRS-Les Afriques dans le Monde), Sara Panata (CNRS-Les Afriques dans le Monde) are organizing two study days in the context of the GLOW (Gender, Law and Political Activism in West Africa) project. The study days will take place in person at Sciences Po Bordeaux, more information about the program available here.