When the Centre of African Studies came into being three years ago, the lack of specialists in many branches of African studies in Poland and the resulting scarcity of teachers made it seem likely that development might be initially rather slow. Nevertheless, some evaluation of the Centre's work is already possible.

There were four practical objectives in establishing the Centre: (1) to build up a collection of books and other printed materials for African research; (2) to offer a two-year diploma course in African problems for holders of Master's degrees of various departments and faculties (for example, the M.A. of the Oriental Institute of the University of Warsaw, a five-year course which can include specialisation in African philology/linguistics); (3) to organise a centre of advanced research; and (4) to issue our own publications.