The jury of the Africa Thesis Award (African Studies Centre Leiden) is delighted to announce that the 2024 prize has been awarded to Baleseng Maeneche, a graduate of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities at the University of the Western Cape, for her thesis Media Representations of Male Perpetrators of Violence against Women and Children: A Decolonial Feminist Analysis.

In her research, Baleseng applies a decolonial feminist lens to critically examine media portrayals of Black men in South Africa. Through a comparative analysis of two high-profile cases of male violence against female children, her thesis highlights the stark differences in media narratives—particularly in how a white middle-class male perpetrator is portrayed versus a poor Black male perpetrator.

Reflecting on the award, Baleseng said: ‘Winning this international award for my Master’s research is deeply affirming—not just for me, but for the work itself. Coming from a country where only certain people are recognised as victims, while so many others are silenced by the everyday violence of systems and institutions, this recognition feels like a small act of justice. My research has always been about making visible what is too often ignored—about amplifying the voices of those who are overlooked, whose suffering has been normalised. To have that work acknowledged on an international stage reminds me why I do this: to challenge dominant narratives and to insist that all lives, all stories, are worthy of justice and attention.

A heartfelt thank you to my supervisor, who believed in this work from the very beginning and supported it with care and conviction all the way through. And thank you to the Women’s and Gender Studies Department at the University of the Western Cape which has been a space where I have learned world-class scholarship, activism, and community. I am so proud to be a product of this incredible place.’

Baleseng’s thesis was supervised by Prof. Tamara Shefer.

The award ceremony will be organised at a later date this year.

Read the abstract here.

Read the thesis here.

A strong field of submissions

This year, 17 high-quality master’s theses were submitted for the award. Each one contributed fresh insights into Africa-related topics across a wide range of academic disciplines.

Shortlist

This year’s shortlist consists of:

• Indy Koster – Runner Up, with the thesis Coral reefs, the house of fish – Perceptions of coral reefs in Southern Kenya
• Stacy Ngetich – Honourable Mention, with the thesis Surviving and Thriving: The Challenges and Emotional Coping Strategies of Black-African University Students in the Netherlands
• Dominic van Asseldonk, with the thesis Balance amidst disruption: Social cohesion and stability through (agro)pastoral foodways in Moroto, Karamoja (Uganda)

The jury would like to especially commend Indy Koster for earning the runner-up position with a methodologically innovative thesis that offered beautiful pictures and insights into marine ecosystems. Additionally, Stacy Ngetich’s work received an honourable mention for its exploration of the challenges African students in tertiary education in the Netherlands face and the emotional toll adapting in these challenging environments takes.

The jury extends its heartfelt thanks to all the students who submitted their work, as well as to the supervisors who supported them throughout the research and writing process.

Acknowledgements

The ASCL warmly thanks the members of the jury for their thoughtful and dedicated review of all submissions:

• Dr Tanja Hendriks (Chair, KU Leuven)
• Dr Agnieszka Kazimierczuk (independent researcher and thinker)
• Mandipa Ndlovu (PhD candidate, African Studies Centre Leiden)
• Dr Jody Metcalfe (researcher, Utrecht University)
• Joost Bastmeijer (Africa correspondent)

About the Africa Thesis Award – apply now!

The Africa Thesis Award is an annual initiative by the African Studies Centre Leiden that recognises outstanding master’s theses on African topics. Established more than 20 years ago, the award aims to encourage research and writing on Africa and to promote African Studies worldwide.

The next round of the Africa Thesis Award is now open! If you are or know someone who studied at a Dutch or African university and is completing a master’s thesis focused on Africa, we encourage you to submit your work for the 2025 edition. More information on how to apply here.