Paul Tiyambe Zeleza's article "The Pasts and Futures of African Studies and Area Studies" examines the historical trajectory, intellectual underpinnings, and future challenges of African and area studies, particularly in the United States. The piece highlights several key themes: Historical Development: The article traces the evolution of African studies, contrasting the perspectives of African American scholar-activists, who emphasized pan-African unity and cultural restoration, with European and Euro-American academic traditions, which often racialized and marginalized African history and contributions​ AFRICABIB ​ ESCHOLARSHIP . Tensions and Divides: Zeleza identifies a persistent divide between "the Africa" conceptualized by African American scholars—focused on liberation and cultural significance—and "the Africa" framed by Western academia, often shaped by colonial and ethnocentric narratives. Challenges in the Discipline: The work critiques the continued impact of colonial legacies, limited funding, and the dominance of Western academic paradigms in African studies. It calls for a more inclusive, interdisciplinary approach to address these issues. Future Directions: Zeleza advocates for African studies to engage more critically with global processes and to reimagine its role in fostering understanding of Africa's diversity and dynamism in a global context​ AFRICABIB ​ ESCHOLARSHIP ​ ESCHOLARSHIP .