Statement on the fire at the University of Cape Town (Jagger Library) on the 18th April 2021

SCOLMA is saddened to hear of the damage caused to the Jagger Library and its collections by the fire which broke out on Table Mountain last weekend.  The Library and its preeminent collections have been used by students and researchers for generations, and have contributed to learning and leading scholarly research on Africa. SCOLMA hopes … Read more

SCOLMA letter on the proposed closure of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies

31 October 2020 Professor Wendy Thomson, CBE Vice-Chancellor, University of London Dear Professor Thomson We in SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) are extremely concerned to hear about plans to close the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study. As librarians and archivists of African collections across the UK, we are … Read more

SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) BLACK LIVES MATTER STATEMENT

SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) BLACK LIVES MATTER STATEMENT Agreed at the SCOLMA AGM, 8.6.20 We in SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) wish to add our voice to those condemning the recent death of George Floyd in police custody in the US. Systemic racism is far from … Read more

SOAS Library – an Open Letter from SCOLMA

                                                                                                                  9th January 2019 Dear Baroness Amos, Re: SOAS Library – Open Letter I am writing on behalf of SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) to express our deep concerns about the proposed cuts to SOAS Library. SOAS Library holds one of the most important African Studies collections in the UK, widely … Read more

SCOLMA Statement on the Situation in Mali

SCOLMA Statement on the Situation in Mali SCOLMA (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) adds its voice to the deep concern expressed in many quarters about current events in Mali. In particular, we share the concerns raised by the International Committee of the Blue Shield and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee about the actual … Read more