‘Law and Africa‘—an Initiative of Max Planck Law—was established in 2023 and aims at advancing the study and understanding of African legal systems. This Initiative unites researchers from across the Max Planck Law network and beyond, creating a community dedicated to exploring the nature and complexities around the topic.
We recently spoke to Isaac Kunko, one of the founding organizers and a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition . He further elaborated on the Initiative’s purpose. He explained that ‘The Law and Africa Initiative was created to broaden the horizons of legal scholars by facilitating collaboration across disciplines and institutions. It’s about more than just academic research; it’s about connecting people who share a passion for African law and encouraging them to work together’.
The focus is not solely on African researchers. The Initiative facilitates an exchange of legal perspectives and approaches between Africa and Europe. By bringing together scholars from diverse backgrounds, the Law and Africa Initiative allows for comparative studies that can enrich legal scholarship in both continents. In Isaac’s words, ‘African researchers bring unique perspectives that can offer fresh insights into European legal issues, and vice versa’.
One of the Initiative’s core activities is organizing events that promote the exchange of ideas among scholars. The first of these, a talk entitled ‘What is African Law?‘ by Professor Raymond A. Atuguba, set the tone for future discussions by addressing the diverse and pluralistic nature of African legal systems. ‘African law is different from law in Europe,’ Isaac noted. ‘In Africa, you often have multiple legal traditions—such as religious, common law, and statutory law—existing simultaneously within the same country. Understanding these complexities is crucial for the serious study of African law’.
Isaac and co-organizer Dr Hatem Elliesie invite all interested researchers to get involved. Whether you are part of the Max Planck Law network or a scholar from elsewhere, there are opportunities to contribute to and benefit from this growing community. For more information and to get in contact with the organizers, please see the Initiative’s web page.