Adriaan van Klinken

Professor Adriaan van Klinken is a leading scholar in Religion and African Studies at the University of Leeds, serving as Deputy Head of the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science. He holds a PhD from Utrecht University and previously worked at SOAS, University of London. His research focuses on religion, gender, sexuality, and public life in contemporary Africa, with a geographic emphasis on Zambia and Kenya. Key areas include queer theology, Pentecostalism, and African literary engagements with religion. He co-authored influential books such as Kenyan, Christian, Queer (2019) and Reimagining Christianity and Sexual Diversity in Africa (2021). Van Klinken is affiliated with the Centre for Religion and Public Life and the Leeds University Centre for African Studies, and serves on editorial boards for journals like Religion and Religion and Gender. His work bridges academic and community engagement, advocating for queer inclusion through creative methodologies.

His teaching includes modules on African religions, theology, and gender studies, emphasizing research-led pedagogy. Current postgraduate advisees include Grace Nwamah, Laura Wallace, and Cee Swakamisa. Van Klinken’s current research explores Christianity in African literature and queer hermeneutics. His interdisciplinary approach integrates ethnography, theology, and arts-based methods to address pressing social issues in Africa.