Careers: From studying MA African Studies to showcasing art and culture in Uganda

For our SOAS Careers series, we chat with Dr Anna Adima, MA African Studies alum and Director at Goethe-Zentrum Kampala, about her work showcasing Uganda's art and culture scene, her memories of SOAS, and career advice.

As the Director of the Goethe-Zentrum Kampala ... 

I oversee the Language Department and the Cultural Department, and develop and maintain strategic relationships with the German Embassy in Kampala, the Goethe Insitute Nairobi (from which we receive our funding), and Goethe Institute Johannesburg (the Goethe Headquarters in Africa).

I am involved in plans for cultural projects and regularly meet with artists (visual artists, writers, musicians, spoken word performers - the list is endless) or cultural practitioners to discuss collaborations. I also meet with representatives from the German Embassy or cultural organisations active in Uganda. 

Building back cultural life in Kampala ... 

I am excited to be in a position to play a key role in shaping Kampala’s cultural scene. The cultural sector in Uganda took a massive hit during the pandemic, and many artists could not continue working due to very little support. For 2-years, cultural life in Kampala was virtually at a standstill, and only now can we see a slow return to what it was before the pandemic.

If art and culture are what nurture our souls and minds, providing a welcome distraction to the stresses of day-to-day life, I am excited by the idea of being able to provide that to Kampala residents. 

If art and culture are what nurture our souls and minds, providing a welcome distraction to the stresses of day-to-day life, I am excited by the idea of being able to provide that to Kampala residents.

My MA in African Studies ... 

gave me a broad overview of contemporary African political, social and cultural life, allowing me to approach curating cultural programmes with a unique sensitivity and awareness of social contexts. I also studied Swahili at SOAS, East Africa’s lingua franca, which strengthens the way I move in professional contexts in the region.

I chose to study at SOAS due to the excellent reputation of its Africa Department. There's nowhere else where you will have access to expertise and materials on the continent under one roof. I was also attracted by the diversity of the student body and all the opportunities that come with living and studying in London and the UK.

At SOAS, diversity ... 

in all its forms is normalised and appreciated in ways I have not seen at other institutions. For my MA in African Studies, I enjoyed the luxury of being able to study a broad variety of topics in ways that few other universities offer. The liberal, left-leaning student body also meant that the status quo was challenged on a daily basis at the university in ways I have not witnessed in other places. But there are so many things that make SOAS unique.

I loved the fact that you never know what to expect when walking into the JCR. Would the speakers be playing ABBA music or Bengali tunes? Would Jeremy Corbyn be sitting there talking to students?

I have so many fond memories of SOAS...

I loved the community amongst the postgraduate students who truly made the university a home away from home. We were a closely-knit bunch and regularly met after classes over drinks, lunch or dinner. I have particularly fond memories of lunches in Russell Square during the summer dissertation-writing period.

I enjoyed the lovely community of African postgraduate students, and we regularly met for drinks to debate African politics. I learned so much from those sessions - not to mention that they would help ease my homesickness!

I also loved that you never know what to expect when walking into the JCR. Would the speakers be playing ABBA music or Bengali tunes? Would Jeremy Corbyn be sitting there talking to students? Or would a protest or walk-out currently be happening? No two weeks were the same at SOAS.

Career advice for working in the cultural sector ... 

I know it sounds cliche, but networking is so important. Like in most industries, in the cultural and diplomatic sector, who you know is just as important as what you know. I would encourage people to attend networking sessions, and to be open to meeting as many people as possible - you never know who could be a helpful, professional contact in the future.

My hopes for the future ... 

I want to retain one foot in academia, as I miss research, and I hope to publish my PhD thesis as a book. I would also like to return to lecture at SOAS - it will always feel like home.