The Africa Report, a leading publication on African affairs, has highlighted Grieve Chelwa as one of the “10 African Scholars to Watch in 2025.” This recognition underscores Chelwa’s significant contributions to research, teaching, and public engagement on African economic development.
Chelwa currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and an Associate Professor of Political Economy at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University. He previously held prominent positions as the director of research at the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School and as a senior lecturer of economics at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, where he also directed the MBA program.
Chelwa’s academic journey has included roles as a visiting postdoctoral fellow at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER) at the University of the Witwatersrand and the inaugural postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University’s Center for African Studies. He is also a non-resident senior fellow at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Chelwa’s focus on political economy examines its implications for Africa’s economic development, combining rigorous research with public outreach. As Chelwa himself notes, his “most exciting, intriguing, and rewarding role” is engaging in public commentary on economic issues impacting the African continent.
“This role requires me to explain complex economic issues to a broader audience beyond the academy, a task that is arguably more challenging than writing for my academic peers,” Chelwa said.
Chelwa’s recognition follows The Africa Report’s 2024 acknowledgment of Naminata Diabate, an associate professor of comparative literature at Cornell University, as one of the “10 African Scholars to Watch.” Diabate, a former Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellow at The Africa Institute, now serves on the institute’s advisory board.
The inclusion of Chelwa and Diabate in these prestigious lists reflects their outstanding scholarship and highlights The Africa Institute, Global Studies University’s commitment to fostering intellectual excellence on global African studies.
To explore the full list of distinguished scholars named to the 2025 edition, visit The Africa Report.
The Africa Report, a leading publication on African affairs, has highlighted Grieve Chelwa as one of the “10 African Scholars to Watch in 2025.” This recognition underscores Chelwa’s significant contributions to research, teaching, and public engagement on African economic development.
The Africa Report, a leading publication on African affairs, has highlighted Grieve Chelwa as one of the “10 African Scholars to Watch in 2025.” This recognition underscores Chelwa’s significant contributions to research, teaching, and public engagement on African economic development.
Chelwa currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and an Associate Professor of Political Economy at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University. He previously held prominent positions as the director of research at the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School and as a senior lecturer of economics at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, where he also directed the MBA program.
Chelwa’s academic journey has included roles as a visiting postdoctoral fellow at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER) at the University of the Witwatersrand and the inaugural postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University’s Center for African Studies. He is also a non-resident senior fellow at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Chelwa’s focus on political economy examines its implications for Africa’s economic development, combining rigorous research with public outreach. As Chelwa himself notes, his “most exciting, intriguing, and rewarding role” is engaging in public commentary on economic issues impacting the African continent.
“This role requires me to explain complex economic issues to a broader audience beyond the academy, a task that is arguably more challenging than writing for my academic peers,” Chelwa said.
Chelwa’s recognition follows The Africa Report’s 2024 acknowledgment of Naminata Diabate, an associate professor of comparative literature at Cornell University, as one of the “10 African Scholars to Watch.” Diabate, a former Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellow at The Africa Institute, now serves on the institute’s advisory board.
The inclusion of Chelwa and Diabate in these prestigious lists reflects their outstanding scholarship and highlights The Africa Institute, Global Studies University’s commitment to fostering intellectual excellence on global African studies.
To explore the full list of distinguished scholars named to the 2025 edition, visit The Africa Report.
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