Department of Anthropology and African Studies
Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies 07 · Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · Forum 6 · 55099 Mainz · Tel: +49-6131-3922798 · Fax: +49-6131-392373 · Head of Department: Thomas Bierschenk · Secretary: Rita Bauer · +49-6131-3922798 · rbauer@uni-mainz.de

Jahn Library for African Literatures

The Jahn Library, established in 1975, is one of the most comprehensive research facilities for African literatures in Europe, harbouring a collection of African literature that dates back to the 1950s and continues to grow today. The library came into being when the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz acquired the private collection of Jahnheinz Jahn, a writer, translator and literary specialist, after he passed away in 1973. While Jahn collected literature from many different regions, including those of the African diaspora (North America and the Caribbean), the library presently acquires only works written by African authors (including children's literature and comics) as well as relevant critical sources and journals, both literary and scholarly. Audio-visual materials on African literature also form part of the collection. Included are texts written in all languages spoken on the African continent (except Arabic). Anja Oed was appointed head of the library in 2002.