media releases - Launch of the Archie Mafeje Research Institute

On Friday, 4 May 2012, Unisa will officially launch a research institute established in honour of renowned African intellectual and scholar, Professor Archie Mafeje. The institute is known as the Archie Mafeje Institute for Applied Social Policy Research or in short, Archie Mafeje Research Institute (AMRI).

The day’s proceedings will take place under the theme: ‘Archie Mafeje and the rethinking of knowledge in and on Africa: Past, Present and Future’.

Unisa Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Mandla Makhanya will deliver the opening address, while the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize has also been invited to speak at the event.

Several other speakers and intellectuals of high standing will also speak in honour of Mafeje and his work during the day’s proceedings. These include Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Minister of Medical Services, Republic of Kenya, Professor Dzodzi Tsikata, Deputy President of  the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and intellectuals such as Professor Jimi Adesina, Professor Puleng Lenka Bula, Dr. Siphamandla Zondi, Professor Sam Moyo and Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza.

Unisa has established the Archie Mafeje Research Institute as a policy research institute dedicated to promoting the legacy of Archie Mafeje in terms of innovative knowledge production in pursuit of progressive change in African Society. It aims to become an African knowledge production think-tank that will provide thorough ongoing research in areas of social change and thus contribute towards Africa’s renewal agenda and global peace.  

Through its work, the institute will honour an African intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting endogenous knowledge that would inform solutions to African social problems and to building an epistemic community of African scholars dedicated to creative thinking about critical African policy challenges.

Professor Makhanya cordially invites the media to the launch. The details are as follows:  

Venue  :           ZK Mathews Great Hall, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Preller Street, Pretoria

Date    :           Friday, 04 May 2012

Time    :           10:30

Enquiries: Ms. Thoko Didiza (012) 337 6124/6079