Podcast: Arabism (Istʿrāb) and Arabists in Sub-Saharan Africa

In this exceptional session of the Strategic Dialogue Forum, the Libyan Center for Research and Studies hosts the distinguished Nigerian scholar, Professor Al-Khidr Abdulbagi Mohammed, Director of the Nigerian Center for Arabic Research (Nigeria).

This thought-provoking discussion explores the depth of Arab and cultural identity across the African continent—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lecture examines the roots of Istʿrāb (Arabism) and sheds light on how African Arabists have preserved linguistic, religious, and intellectual heritage across centuries, despite contemporary geopolitical and linguistic challenges.

Through a critical academic lens, the session addresses questions of identity, belonging, cultural continuity, and the evolving relationship between Africa and the Arab world—offering fresh insights into a field that remains both historically rich and strategically significant.