Dr. Kelly Askew

Biography

Kelly Askew is a Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School and holds the title of Niara Sudarkasa Collegiate Professor of Anthropology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. With over twenty years of experience in Tanzania and Kenya, Askew's work focuses on various aspects of arts, aesthetics, politics, and critical development studies. Current research project interests include post-socialist poetry, African visual arts digitization, rural energy access, and indigenous political movements, particularly among the Maasai pastoralists of East Africa. Askew's notable publications include 'Performing Nation: Swahili Music and Cultural Politics in Tanzania' and has co-edited several significant works such as 'Anthropology and Media' and 'African Postsocialisms'. Her extensive experience in the field has been recognized through numerous awards and grants from organizations such as the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Furthermore, Askew has directed impactful film projects that explore indigenous creativity, including 'Maasai Remix', which received accolades at various international film festivals.

Research Interests