WHO WE ARE
The Basler Afrika Bibliographien (BAB) is a research library for Southern Africa. Its extensive digital and physical archive and library collections, particularly those focusing on Namibia, are unique. They facilitate diverse exchange between Basel and Southern Africa, foster post-colonial knowledge production, and invite scholarly and artistic engagement and inspiration.
The BAB Publishing House promotes publications by authors from Southern Africa and is increasingly focusing on Open Access.
AFRIKA
Collections
The Basler Afrika Bibliographien (BAB) are a renowned documentation and competence center in Basel specializing in Namibia and southern Africa. The institution includes a library and an archive and offers researchers and interested individuals a wide range of materials.
Publishing House
The BAB Publishing House offers books that open up new insights and perspectives in the humanities and social science research on Southern Africa. Through our strong commitment to Open Access, we promote free and equitable access to academic knowledge worldwide. We invite authors to submit book proposals and support you with comprehensive information on manuscript preparation, submission, and related services. Our publications are available through an international distribution network and via our online shop
NEWS
Behind the Scenes: Stories from the Bag Collection
Following our recent exhibition and workshops, work on the Plastic Bag Collection continues behind the scenes. Intern Siraiyion Kipury shares her insights on cataloguing this extraordinary everyday archive.
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Staffelübergabe bei den Basler Afrika Bibliographien | Leadership Transition at the Basler Afrika Bibliographien
Per 1. September 2026 hat Reto Ulrich die Geschäftsleitung von Christian Vandersee übernommen. Im kurzen Interview spricht er über seinen Weg bei den BAB und die Pläne für die Zukunft.
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Volles Haus in Windhoek: Erfolgreiche Buchvernissage für Herbert Jauchs «Trade Unions»
Über 100 Gäste, lebhafte Debatten und prominente Weggefährt:innen: Die Buchvernissage von Herbert Jauch in Windhoek war ein voller Erfolg – und zugleich ein bewegender persönlicher Abschied.
Learn morePartnerships
The Basler Afrika Bibliographien (BAB) maintain long term transnational partnerships and cooperations with universities, archives and libraries in and outside of Switzerland and southern Africa. Since 1995 this includes repatriation of collections to the National Archives of Namibia, in particular. We initiate and facilitate seminars and workshops, exhibitions and publishing projects collaboratively.
Namibia
The BAB cooperates since decades and in multiple ways with many institutions in Namibia, in particular with the University of Namibia (UNAM) Library and the National Archives of Namibia (NAN) in Windhoek.
PARC
PARC is the new meta-catalogue for the Africana collections at the research location Basel and the Frobenius-Institute in Frankfurt.
ZASB
The BAB are founding members of the Centre for African Studies (CAS) which coordinates teaching and research on Africa at the University of Basel and its partner institutions.
ELIAS
The BAB are a founding member of the network European Librarians in African Studies (ELIAS) of the research network African Studies in Europe (AEGIS).
