Katharina Monz

Katharina Monz is a junior professor at the Institute of African Studies, University of Cologne. Her research focuses on migration dynamics in Francophone West Africa, sociolinguistic patterns, and decolonization of academic research. She holds a doctorate awarded summa cum laude with MSCA scholarship support.

Education:

• BA and MA in Romance Studies (French) and African Studies from University of Cologne
• Doctoral research on Manding-speaking West African mobility, conducted in Mali and neighboring regions

Current Research: Explores 'return migration' concepts (retour) among West Africans, including temporary migration (aventure), expatriate movements, and second-generation returnees to Africa. Uses sociolinguistic methods in French, Bambara, and regional languages.

Awards:

• MSCA scholarship recipient
• Summa cum laude doctoral distinction

Key Projects: artes Graduate School postdoc project examining North-South migration links between Francophone Europe and West Africa. Active in decolonizing migration research frameworks.