WARA’s mission is to foster the production and dissemination of current research on West Africa and the diaspora; to promote scholarly exchange among West African scholars and institutions and their counterparts in the US and beyond; to provide US audiences with accurate information on events and developments in West Africa; and to increase awareness of the critical place of West Africa in the global community.
WARA realizes its mission through a wide range of programming initiatives, including its research fellowships, conferences, and publications; and through many programs headquartered at the West African Research Center (WARC), WARA’s research center in Dakar, Senegal. WARC serves as a point of contact for researchers throughout West Africa and their colleagues from the US and elsewhere. WARC provides scholars with a rich array of resources and supportive services including a research and film library, digitization lab, seminar rooms, computer and wireless Internet access, an on-site cafe, and a program of conferences, seminars, lectures, and other scholarly and artistic events. WARC facilities are available for conferences, workshops and other meetings. Its new conference room is fully equipped with a state-of-the-art video-conferencing system.
