Interaction between University African Studies Departments and African Studies in schools has never been more necessary than at the present time. The current standing of African Studies in the UK is largely a1 monument to the enterprising young academics of the 1950s and 60s who, fired with an enthusiasm born in the heady days of African Independence Movements and decolonisation, risked their academic careers on Africa. They challenged the academic establishments of universities in this country, and to an amazing extent secured funding to establish specialist centres which then proceeded to justify themselves by an explosion of new ideas about Africa.

But the passage of time takes its toll and at the last ASAUK conference I was very conscious of this.