The Association for Africanist Anthropology requests submissions for three annual awards. The 2023 submission deadlines for the awards are listed below. The awards are presented during the AfAA reception at the annual meetings of the American Anthropological Association (AAA).  For information on past AfAA Award winners, click here.

Elliott P. Skinner Book Award

Association for Africanist Anthropology (AfAA) sponsors the annual Elliott P. Skinner Book Award. The prize is to the book that best furthers the global community of Africanist scholars and the wider interests of the African continent, as exemplified in the work of Elliott P. Skinner. Contributions from all sub-fields of anthropology are welcome, with special consideration given to works drawing upon extensive research in the field or those advancing new methodologies for fieldwork in Africa. Inquiries and nominations for the 2025 award cycle should be sent to the 2025 Skinner Book Award Committee Chair, James H. Smith (jsmit@ucdavis.edu)

Awards are selected based on the following criteria:

  • The originality of scholarship, the creativity of insight, and the quality of writing.
  • Advancements to field-based data and theoretical scholarship, focusing on contributions in the realms of fieldwork or service to Africa.
  • Visibility of the book in the fields of African studies and Africanist anthropology, or the clear potential of the book to become visible to these constituencies.
  • There is clear potential for the book to reach an audience beyond the Africanist scholarly community or to promote a broader understanding of sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The deadline for submission is May 15. Submissions should include a letter of nomination by a scholar other than the author, a copy of the nominated book, and a full C.V. of the author.
  • The year of publication for the nominated book will be the year preceding the award year.
  • All award recipients must be members of the AfAA.
  • The Award consists of a $1,000 prize. Awardees will be recognized and receive their prizes at the AfAA reception during the AAA’s annual meetings.

Bennetta Jules-Rosette Graduate Essay Award

The Association for Africanist Anthropology (AfAA) sponsors the annual Bennetta Jules-Rosette Graduate Student Essay Award. The prize is awarded to the best graduate student essay in Africanist anthropology. Contributions from all sub-fields of anthropology are welcome. Special emphasis seeks to highlight emerging perspectives with promise to develop as a major contribution to the fields of Africanist anthropology, African studies, or African diaspora studies. Submissions should be sent to Bennetta Jules-Rosette (bjulesro[@]ucsd.edu). In determining the award, the following criteria will be applied:

  • Originality of scholarship, creativity of insight, and quality of writing.
  • Clear potential for contribution to the fields of Africanist anthropology, African studies, or African diaspora studies. Special consideration will be given to work that incorporates emerging perspectives or interdisciplinary methodologies, which promote the further understanding of sub-Saharan Africa and the African diaspora by a broader audience.
  • Clear potential for continued innovative research, leading toward a dissertation or major publication on the part of the author.
  • The deadline for submission is June 30, 2023. Submissions should include a letter of nomination by a scholar other than the author, a copy of the nominated paper, and a full C.V. of the author.
  • Candidates must not have completed their PhD at the time of nomination.
  • All award recipients must be members of the AfAA.
  • The Award consists of a $500 prize. Awardees will be recognized and receive their prize at the AfAA reception during the annual meetings of the AAA.

Nancy “Penny” Schwartz Undergraduate Student Essay Award

The Association for Africanist Anthropology (AfAA) sponsors the annual Nancy “Penny” Schwartz Undergraduate Paper Award. The prize is awarded to the best undergraduate paper in Africanist anthropology. Submissions should be sent to Bennetta Jules-Rosette (bjulesro[@]ucsd.edu). In determining the award, the following criteria will be applied:

  • Originality of scholarship, creativity of insight, and quality of writing. A well-argued and innovative perspective on a current issue of concern to Africanist and African diaspora scholarship or to the issues facing Africa more generally.
  • Clear potential for supporting future research at the graduate level or beyond. Special consideration will be given to undergraduates planning to pursue a career in anthropology or in service and education on the African continent.
  • Original research involving primary materials or fieldwork is useful, but not essential for consideration.
  • Note: We do not accept multi-chapter undergraduate theses. Thesis submissions should select a strong representative chapter and submit that along with an abstract of the full project.
  • The deadline for submission is June 30, 2023. Submissions should include a letter of nomination by an academic mentor and a copy of the student paper.
  • Candidates must not have completed their undergraduate studies earlier than the year of nomination (e.g., if a student graduates in May of the year of nomination, that is acceptable).
  • Candidates for the Undergraduate Paper Award do not need to be members of the AfAA.
  • The Award consists of a $100 cash prize plus registration for the Annual Meetings of the AAA. Awardees will be recognized and receive their prize at the AfAA reception during the annual meetings of the AAA.

Graduate Travel Awards

The Association for Africanist Anthropology will award 3 grants of $500 each for travel to the 2025 Annual Meetings of the American Anthropological Association. Eligibility is restricted to students and recent PhDs working in Africanist anthropology. Applicants must be giving a paper or poster, organizing a session, or seeking employment. Awardees will be notified prior to the AAA meetings, with awards formally announced and checks given out at the AfAA Awards Ceremony and business meeting. Application Deadline: July 10, 2025

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Primary disciplinary focus on Africanist anthropology
  • Must be a student or a recent PhD
  • Must be a member of AfAA (student dues are $0)

Evaluation Criteria (one of three must be applicable):

  • attending the AAA meetings to give a paper related to Africanist anthropology; or
  • organizing a session on Africanist anthropology; or
  • actively seeking employment as an Africanist anthropologist.

Application Materials:

Interested individuals should submit the following application materials (see submission instructions below):

  1. A cover letter that:
  • summarizes the applicant’s work
  • indicates the applicant’s status (student or recent PhD)
  • addresses the applicability of evaluation criteria
  • describes funding the applicant’s university or employer will provide, if any
  1. Supporting Materials:
  • If you are presenting a paper at the AAA meetings, please submit a copy of your abstract and the session’s name.
  • If you have organized a session on Africanist anthropology, please submit the abstract of your session and confirmation of its acceptance.
  • If you are attending the AAA meetings to seek or secure employment in Africanist anthropology, please submit a statement on your job search plans for the meetings.
  1. A recommendation letter in support of the application from your primary academic advisor.

Please submit all materials as PDF files to Dr. Dorothy Hodgson (dolohodgson at gmail.com) with “2025 AfAA Graduate Travel Award” in the subject line by the deadline of July 10, 2025.  Your academic adviser may email their letter of support separately.