Surveying the Terrain: A Diagnostic of African Studies Research in Senegal (2021–2026)

The production of African Studies knowledge within the continent is a critical yet under-examined component of decolonial academic practice. This survey provides a diagnostic analysis of the state of this field in a key West African research hub. This study aims to systematically map the institutional landscape, identify prevailing research themes, and analyse the structural challenges and opportunities facing African Studies research conducted within Senegal. A mixed-methods survey was administered to a purposive sample of researchers, academics, and postgraduate students affiliated with relevant institutions. Data collection combined quantitative questionnaires with semi-structured interviews, followed by thematic and descriptive statistical analysis. A dominant theme was the persistent tension between international funding agendas and locally defined research priorities. Quantitatively, over 60% of respondents identified limited access to archival materials and digital repositories as a major impediment to their work. The field demonstrates robust endogenous intellectual activity but remains constrained by infrastructural deficits and asymmetrical academic partnerships. Its future trajectory hinges on strategic institutional reforms. Key recommendations include establishing a national digital research portal, developing targeted early-career fellowship programmes, and fostering university-press partnerships to enhance the dissemination of locally produced scholarship. African Studies, research capacity, Senegal, knowledge production, decolonisation, academic infrastructure This paper provides the first comprehensive, data-driven diagnostic of the African Studies research ecosystem within Senegal, offering an evidence base for policy interventions aimed at strengthening endogenous knowledge systems.