About Asad

From New Orleans to Johannesburg

Asad el Malik is an academic and cultural ambassador whose life and work bridge two worlds — the American South where he was born, and South Africa, the country he now calls home. His research, writing, and program design all trace back to one question: what does it mean to find home again?

Education and training

New Orleans

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, the city that shaped his earliest sense of community, culture, and resilience.

Dillard University

Earned his undergraduate degree from Dillard University, a historically Black university in his hometown.

Columbia International University

Went on to earn both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy from Columbia International University.

Wits University

Completed post-doctoral studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, deepening his academic ties to South Africa.

Research and work

Asad's research centers on diaspora identity and cultural development — how communities carry, reshape, and reconnect with heritage across borders and generations. He manages the Diaspora Project at the African Center for the Study of the United States, translating that research into programs that connect students, professionals, and communities across the African world.

He has lived in South Africa since 2022, and his work has taken him across the continent, with travel to multiple African countries deepening his understanding of the diverse cultures, histories, and communities that make up the diaspora he studies.

The book

Find Home Again

Asad wrote about his own journey from the United States to South Africa in Find Home Again — a memoir on identity, belonging, and what it means to build a life across two worlds.

Get the book

Family

Asad is married with two sons, and calls Johannesburg home alongside his family.

Explore the program