The African Studies Association of the United Kingdom (ASAUK) formed in 1963 "to advance African studies, particularly in the United Kingdom, by providing facilities for the interchange of information and ideas and the co-ordination of activities by and between persons and institutions concerned with the study of Africa."[1] Antony Allott and Roland Oliver led the founding of the group.[2][3] In recent times the Royal African Society administers the association.
The group organizes conferences and supports the Standing Committee on University Studies in Africa and the Standing Conference on Library Materials on Africa.[4]
The ASAUK "Distinguished Africanist" award was established in 2001 to pay tribute to those "who have made exceptional contributions to the field of African studies".[5] Its recipients have been: