معرفی
Ann Cassiman is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), affiliated with the Institute for Anthropological Research in Africa (IARA). Her research focuses on youth in Muslim migrant communities (zongos) in Accra, Ghana, emphasizing themes like friendship, kinship, online relationships, and gender dynamics. She has conducted fieldwork on seamstresses in zongos, exploring DIY innovation and femininity. Earlier work centered on material culture and housing in Northern Ghana, resulting in books and exhibitions like *SONGO* and *Home Call*. She coordinates the Advanced Master in Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies (CADES).
Teaching includes project management, economic anthropology, and interdisciplinary seminars. She lectures at the University of Antwerp and guest-lectures at institutions like Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen. Her interests span urban development, migratory biographies, and the commodification of cultural dwelling. Recent publications explore photographic archives, cyber trickery, and mental health self-help groups in Accra's zongos.
Key activities include supervising PhD projects on topics such as mental health in Burkina Faso, digital youth in Togo, and urban futures in Côte d'Ivoire. She collaborates on initiatives like *CityLabs* studying 'making' in African cities. Her work bridges ethnography with policy, emphasizing urban dynamics and social cohesion.
