Rüdiger Seesemann

Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Seesemann is Chair of Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Languages and Literatures, University of Bayreuth, a position he has held since 2017. He also serves as Chair of the Cluster of Excellence "Africa multiple" since 2019 and as Deputy Director of the Institute of African Studies (IAS) since 2015. Previously, he was Heisenberg Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Bayreuth (2011-2016) and Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Evanston (2005-2011).

Seesemann's research focuses on Islamic studies with particular emphasis on Sufism, Islam and Modernity, Islam and Politics, Islamism, Islamic Education, and Islamic Knowledge in Africa. His geographical expertise spans Sudan, East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), and West Africa (Mauritania, Senegal). His work examines the complex interplay between Islamic traditions and contemporary political, social, and educational contexts across the African continent.

His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly contributions to the field of Islamic studies in Africa, with particular attention to Sufi orders (especially the Tijaniyya), Islamic education practices, and the impact of colonial and post-colonial contexts on religious expression. His research methodology combines historical analysis with contemporary ethnographic approaches, providing nuanced understandings of how Islamic knowledge practices evolve within African contexts.

Seesemann has held numerous editorial and leadership positions, including membership on the Editorial Board of the Journal of African Religions since 2016 and as co-editor of the series "Islam in Africa" published by Brill Academic Publishers since 2005. He has also served as Principal Investigator for the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies since 2012.

As a researcher and academic leader, Seesemann has been instrumental in shaping contemporary approaches to African Islamic studies, particularly through his work promoting relational and decolonial perspectives in African scholarship. His recent work with the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence reflects his commitment to advancing new methodological frameworks for understanding the diverse expressions of Islam across the African continent.