Horn of Africa Initiative

Art credit: “Interconnected” by Yeggy Michael, 2007

This initiative is in partnership with the Near Eastern Languages & Civilization


The Horn of Africa region — which embraces the modern countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti — is home to a rich array of cultural, literary, and spiritual traditions, with deep historical roots and dynamic contemporary practices. Despite the region’s importance, it remains poorly understood and understudied in the American academy. Few American universities possess experts on the region, and fewer still offer courses devoted to its languages, history, and cultures.

The University of Washington’s Horn of Africa Initiative seeks to fill this gap by:

  • Building new curriculum on the history, languages, and cultures of the Horn of Africa.
  • Creating new knowledge about the region through research and dialogue.
  • Expanding the university’s connections to the Horn heritage communities of the Pacific Northwest.