The British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) promotes innovative research on the histories, cultures, and societies of a region spanning Sudan to Mozambique.
Our interdisciplinary community brings together researchers from the arts, humanities, and social sciences, including international partners, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, grant recipients, graduate attachés, interns, and members.
BIEA supports research across its lifecycle – from fieldwork to publication and impact. Our Research Committee awards small grants to both early career and senior researchers, through an annual open competition and a targeted call for ideas. Our Nairobi research centre offers seminar and conference facilities, a reference library, and an archive. We also arrange affiliations advice and logistical support for scholars, facilitating research permits and equipment hire in Kenya. We host events and provide support for seminars, workshops and conferences in our Nairobi hub, at the British Academy – as a member of its network of British International Research Institutes – and in partner universities across Eastern Africa and the UK.
Regular engagement opportunities include a monthly hybrid Graduate Forum, and a Research and Policy Seminar Series. BIEA also publishes two leading peer-reviewed journal – Azania and the Journal of Eastern African Studies – an Annual Review and a weekly news bulletin.
Join UsThe British Institute in Eastern Africa originated in the work of pioneering British archaeologists and historians and evolved over time into a diverse interdisciplinary network of arts, humanities and social sciences researchers based in Eastern Africa, the UK, and around the world.
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Eastern Africa presents stark contrast between escalating conflicts and crises and distinctive patterns of development, connectivity, and solidarity. These dynamics generate new questions about the region’s past and present, demanding deeper critical inquiry, and creating opportunities for transformative knowledge production.
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The British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) is an international charity registered in England and Wales (Charity Commission number 1061622). Its charitable aim is to promote social sciences and humanities research in and concerning Eastern Africa.
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BIEA offers event spaces, workspaces and specialized equipment to support scholarly engagement and collaboration. These facilities can be hired independently or integrated into research partnerships. Researchers are encouraged to contact the BIEA to discuss their event, workspace or equipment requirements.
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Find out more about the people who support and contribute to the The British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA).
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There are many reasons to become a member of the BIEA and join our research community. The BIEA membership is open to all researchers and early career researchers.
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