Black-led by design, grounded in African and Afro-diasporic intellectual traditions and shaped by scholars with deep disciplinary expertise and lived connection to the regions and communities engaged in the research. At the same time, the initiative is intentionally inclusive. PAIR welcomes researchers of all backgrounds whose work is focused on Pan African contexts, particularly those conducting research on the African continent and across diasporic regions.
Vision
Mission
Values
Nommo NOH-moh: An Akan (Adinkra) symbol known as the “wisdom knot,” representing knowledge, ingenuity, patience, and the ability to apply wisdom in complex situations.
PAIR aims to be a globally recognized hub for interdisciplinary research, education, and community engagement that centers African and Afro-diasporic knowledge systems, histories, and future.
Grounded in the principle of Nommo, this vision recognizes meaning and knowledge as forces that shape understanding and social reality. PAIR’s vision centres intentional scholarship that acknowledges the power of knowledge to influence communities, institutions, and futures.
Nyansapo (nyahn-SAH-poh): An Akan (Adinkra) symbol meaning “wisdom knot,” representing wisdom, intelligence, and ingenuity.
PAIR connects research and scholarship with a wide-ranging network of collaborators, including academic partners, community leaders, and institutions to:
- Bridge academic and community knowledge systems
- Support reciprocal, ethical, and decolonial research partnerships
- Advance scholarship that centers Black and African worldviews, histories, and futures
Grounded in Nyansapo, PAIR’s mission emphasizes ethical, relational, and collaborative research practices. Nyansapo highlights the importance of careful judgment and responsibility in how partnerships are built and knowledge is advanced.
Ubuntu (oo-BOON-too): A Pan-African philosophy centered on shared humanity and interdependence, often expressed as “I am because we are.”
PAIR engages in research, partnership, and knowledge creation in ways that centre care, reciprocity, and ethical responsibility, prioritizing collective flourishing.
Grounded in Ubuntu, these values guide PAIR’s commitment to interdisciplinary, equitable, decolonial, and community-engaged practices.